Only just caught this thread.

Do get her checked for hypothyroidism. I had a dog with recurrent corneal ulcers and unfortunately I was a little late in being told about this and shortly after being confirmed that she was hypothyroid she lost an eye to a ruptured cornea and then had to have a graft on her remaining eye.

Sue

Thank you all for your comments, good wishes and suggestions. Much appreciated.

I will definitely follow up on the hypothyroidism. I have researched this a bit on the web and you are quite right, there is a connection.

Thanks once again.

Just a question to those of you who have suggested testing for hypothyroidism - did your dogs have any other symptoms?

As I say, I have looked it up and it usually gives the main symptoms as being weight gain and skin problems, with possible hair loss. Sadie is very slim and has no weiight or skin problems at all.

She does have some of the lesser symptoms - ie decreased excercise tolerance, loss of smell, slight behavioural changes, the "tragic/sad" face syndrome, and, of course, the corneal ulcer problem, probably arising from dry eye, which in turn might be caused by the hypothyroidism.

I'm really getting quite upset about this - I hate to see Sadie uncomfortable, and having just lost my Minnie Gremlin everything seems much more intense and raw at the moment.

Sorry, bit depressed

Some dogs show no other symptoms at all. Some dogs do. get a test ASAP, ask for a FULL THYROID PANEL and not just a T4 test.

My old dog now sadly departed...
She didn't really have any outward signs of hypothyroidism.
She had an eye injury which resulted in eye ulcer.
It took ages to heal.

I got her tested, and much to the vets surprise her test result was as classic a hypothyroid case as you can get.
Yet as the vet said you'd never have believed it just looking at my girl as she didn't show any of the classic signs associated with hypo-t, only the vet knew the bloods were from her as she did the bloods draw. She even asked was I sure I wanted her tested....LOL

As she said it explained why her eye ulcer took so long to heal (she was almost at the stage of suggesting removal).
We did have subsequent ulcers (others put feet in her face - typical Boxer play) but they were quicker in healing once she was on her soloxine medication for the hypo-t.

Meant to say, dont feel too depressed if it is Hypothyroidism, its easily managed and the dog will lead a normal life after dose is stabilised.

Arh bless my 12 year old staffy had a few eye ulcers and neva seemed to clear up,she had the drops the green stuff put in and everything and in the end it was because her fur even thou she was short haired was goin in her eye and it was starting it all off again i just had 2 keep washing her eye in a eye wash from the vets i hope it gets sorted poor thing

Ebony - her of the eye ulcers - had no other signs and Jenna only had galloping dandruff that I could not clear. I was told in both instances when asking to be tested that I was wasting my money as they could not possible by hypo-t. Ebony was only slightly under the normal levels but Jenna was well below.

Sue

Having the human version of hypothyroidism, I didn't show any of the classic symptoms at all, I was slim etc, it was picked up in routine blood test when I became pregnant Sadly so was my T1 diabetes as well

So I would imagine the same would apply to animals as well, they might show classic symptoms or they may just show a slight symptom mild and really not noticeable at all...

Just to let you know that Sadie had bloods taken today at vets for full thyroid panel. Vet is not really convinced I don't think, but I insisted and he said OK.

I do so hope thyroid is the problem, because I know it can be managed, and it would be so good to see Sadie in good health again. Plus, of course, I will feel a real eejit if the vet is right and I'm wrong! Vet said it might take 5 or so days for all test results to come back.

Sadie also has an appointment to see the eye specialist on Friday morning, so my little girl is having a busy week.

Will keep you updated, and once again many thanks for all your help. Much appreciated.