Hypothyroidism

This is the one avenue I haven't explored thoroughly with Cain and it's still niggling at me. Recent threads about Kestral and seminars on the topic have brought it back to the forefront of my mind.

About 6/8 months back, my vet and I had a very long conversation about this. We were going to test his blood, but logistically it was going to be incredibly stressful for Cain. It was going to involve sedation and all sorts. After a lot if discussion we decide that, on balance, we thought it unlikely that he was hypothyroid as he was still so young and wasn't displaying the normal medical symptoms. So we decided it wasn't worth stressing him out.

However, it's still bugging me that maybe it is a factor in his behaviour. He shows some symptoms
Unpredicatable aggression. Admittedly this is in certain circumstances (he is not aggressive at all at home), but when he goes it is without warning and totally OTT in his reaction. He also seems worse the last two months Hewas progressing well at dog socialisation class but is suddenly going backwards and getting very physical.
He is a mix of two breeds predisposed to it, and I've read some interesting case studies of it affecting young Akitas
He does shed excessively, I know GSDs shed, but Cain REALLY really sheds. Although he has no bald patches
He has low level allergies, gets itchy belly in summer. He also chews his feet/legs for unknown reasons
He has had pyoderma (although this was probably caused by a physical trigger like an ants nest)
He is unbelievably slow healing, a tiny nick will take weeks to heal. His hair regrowth is also ridiculously slow, which I believe can be a symptom (lower level version of hair loss).

I don't know He's going for his annual check up and vaccination and I'm tempted to ask the vet again. As Kestral's vet agreed to trial the drugs before the blood test results, I wondered if my vet might agree. At least if he responded positively to a short trial, it would seem worth the stress of putting him through a blood test to confirm it

But deep down I think it's likely that Cain's behaviour is mostly a deep seated genetic problem. But I can't help but feel this should be explored, but I don't want to stress him out with blood tests unnecessarily. What do you think?

I had Rupert tested a couple of times, not because I thought it was a thyroid issue but just to definitely rule it out. Once when he was young and then again when he was 8. There was no sedation or messing around involved either time, they just took blood

Thanks Sarah, I do feel the need to at least rule it out. Cain's so big and strong, it would be difficult to restrain him. Easier to sedate him but makes the process longer and more expensive, but hopefully less stressful.

Reading this article has really made me wonder if he might be one of this dogs who isn't displaying classic symptoms, but may be affected. A lot of this fits.

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-BEHV-THYROID.HTM

Thyroid problems can throw up some unwanted behaviour. I know many who have the tests done send the results to Jean Dodds as she is THE expert in the field as far as I'm aware.

What's his weight like?

It's a Dodds article which I read

His weight is fine. He got a bit fat when I switched to raw, he does seem to gain weight easily and needs to be fed far less. Last time he weighed 45kg, and he is currently fed just 1.5% of his body weight (recommended 2-3% on raw), on that he maintains weight. It may be because he is kept on lead, but he still gets around 1.5hrs exercise a day plus off lead running a few times a week when possible. I haven't weighed him since last year but he'll get weighed qt the vets for his annual check up so it'll be interesting to see if he's maintained weight.

I had my boy tested recently and despite my vet saying he was 'normal' i have consulted with Jean Dodds and will be arranging for a Thyroid 5 panel with her team at Hemopet in the US as soon as I can as by her 'range' (large database of Dobers) he is sub optimal he is 14.6 and by her reckoning he should be between 26 and 50 (my vet said 13 and 51)

I posted details of the seminars she will be holding in June in Manchester and northampton and I will be sending the info to my vet!

Looking at my boy he is the picture of health rippling muscles and shiny as a pin BUT he really feels the cold and his teeth will actually chatter even if its cool to everyone else and his lugs will be like ice but he can run around in sub zero temperatures and be warm as toast

never had an appetite until middle of last year but started to not be fussy at all and clear his plate whatever he was given no great amount of weight gain he just doesnt look like a greyhound build anymore in fact he looks just perfect but as his mum i know this to be unusual for him after worrying about his weight for ever!

Have him tested, its your money and ultimately peace of mind (or at the very least you can discount it from your investigations)

I will be interested to see if the medication I assume we will end up needing has an effect on his attitude toward other dogs (intact males specifically - despite tonnes of socialisation as a youngster from around the age of about 2 he became completely intolerant of other males and cautious of other dogs until he assess gender! i know this is down in part to being entire but you see plenty of males in a show ring together without a peep so am curious)

My friends dog suffers with this, she has just moved and changed vets, her vet she is with now hasn't a clue imo so be careful where you go. He has gone from being under control to having his dose lowered by new vet, he looks ill, coat is awful he is snappy, eyes are dull and the vet still insists he is on the correct dose, needless to say she is changing vets, he obviously isn't on the right dose.

I guess your feelings of it with Cain is similar to how I feel about Kestral.. that you have nothing to loose (except a bit of money !)

I don't know if I would bother with a usual blood test as an ONLY option, as Kestral's came back clear but the vet admitted that it is not the full picture and you would have to send it off to hemopet for a proper thyroid reading. Although he did test for other things too and they also came back clear. That cost £140 though, so with sedation I guess it's not a cheap option.

I took a summary of the thread I posted about Kestral's nervousness for him to read and showed him a couple of videos. Based on the fact it should have no adverse effects he was happy to try it and said it would interest him. If I notice a difference obviously we would pursue it further.
I don't expect anything from it but it's worth ruling out.

He only gave me 28 days of tablets but it only cost £3 so its not an expensive thing to try...

Let us know what you and the vet decide

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, at least you will not always be wondering "Could it be a medical issue"?

I would underline, as I said on Whichpets thread, that it is entirely possible to have a "sub clinical" issue ie one that is not "classical" thyroid and unless you have a sympathetic vet or you insist on getting a blood sample drawn and YOU send it off to Jean, that this may remain undiagnosed.

If there is NOTHING to diagnose what have you lost? A bit of dosh. If you have a trial dose of thyroxine that MAY still be inconclusive as you may not have the right dose for THAT dog (as many dogs, like us do not adhere to the rule books)

HTH

there is a place in london (i think) called the caninefilmacademy they send off samples in bulk to hemopet

ive just been checking out fedex and they say £53! gasp! and the cheaper TNT at approx £15 dont take bio (i assume serum would be included in that?)