What does it mean when the vet says your dog has low thyroid count?

Answer 1

Exactly the same thing it means for humans!

Your dogs thyroid gland is for some reason not producing enough thyroxine.

There is a tablet form of this hormone which is readily available, cheap, and tasteless.

Once the dosage has been decided, your dog will need to be dosed every day for the rest of it's life.

There will be no side effects of the medication and your dog will regain energy, skin & fur will improve, etc.

Have had this problem myself and had pet dog with same problem.

Mother in Law also has the same problem, with pet dog with problem.

We laugh that we can all take teh same medications.

Answer 2

The most common cause of low platelets is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura. idiopathic is a disease process with unknown cause. in dogs ITP is caused by an autoimmune defect. The body marks platelets with an antibody that is seen as a threat causing the immune system to destroy platelets. since the body can't identify its own platelets, when new platelets are released the body marks and destroys them too. We run numerous tests and diagnostics to confirm cause or no cause. When platelets are severely limited the body can no longer clot. Any contact runs a high risk of causing a bleed. the hickey spots are called petecheia hemorrhage, which is when small capillaries near the skin surface rupture and bleed. The immune system is malfunctioning and destroying itself and the pet. Some times platelets are so decreased that the pet needs a plasma transfusion and sometimes whole blood transfusion. This keeps the body going while the immune system is being restarted through medications. Prednisone is given to them at a dose high enough to suppress the immune system. it will slow down the destruction enough that not as many platelets are destroyed. production can continue to increase the numbers. prednisone is given until the immune system is suppressed enough to reset itself. now platelets can release into the body and not be destroyed. numbers go up slowly while the body destroys the old platelets with markers. the immune system will slowly return to normal function. the problem with almost shutting down the immune system is now the pet is highly vulnerable to desease. immune systems cant rid the body of disease when functioning so low. to prevent disease and protect the body we give them an antibiotic called doxycycline. it also can work on any other bacterial imbalance in the body. counts and exams are done frequently to monitor progress. occasionally they may add another immune suppressing med if prednisone isn't working correctly. when everything is normal they will start weaning the pet off prednisone and any other meds. it must be weaned as the doctor orders and NEVER stop it or miss a dose. the body is used to being supplied with prednisone so it stopped making its own. weaning allows the body to recognize the levels are getting lower and stimulates production. There is more in depth things about the disease and use of steroids than i put here. but it explains it for the most part. Hope it helps and she gets better!

Answer 3

The thyroid gland in humans secretes hormones that regulate a bunch of different functions. Usually if something is wrong with it weight goes way up or down with no connection to eating habits. But lots of other discomforts can happen...usually in humans it can only be treated with medication, but as long as its treated it doesn't harm anyone. i have no idea with dogs.

Answer 4

It means his thyroid gland isn't functioning properly.. He is over weight, tired, maybe snappy... Before you put him on medication... get a couple of tests to make sure.. There are other factors that can affect a thyroid test.. You don't want to put them on thyroid medication if you don't have to, once you do, the thyroid stops functioning on it's own entirely..

Answer 5

FYI my opinion Watch Diet,More exercise

Answer 6

Ask the vet to explain it to you. That is their job.