Sheltie Mix w past Thyroid prob. Quest Diet

M

MollysMom

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Molly is a Sheltie and we think Shepherd mix. In the past when she's blown her coat it accompanied a Thyroid imbalance. I had her on meds for a while, but she balanced out, and the meds were taking a dog who is normally terrified of people and turning her into an aggressive ball of fur with teeth.

She blew her coat about 2 weeks ago and I'm paranoid about the thyroid thing kicking in again, but she has energy, she has an appetite, here face isn't puffy and old looking, basically she doesn't have any of the signs that her thyroid is an issue, and I don't have money for a visit to the vet. I'll keep monitoring her, but my question is about diet.

Molly also has the world's most delicate stomach. I've been feeding all my dogs (rescues) Blue Basics, Grain Free, Salmon/Whitefish variety. Since trying to feed one dog something different from the other 3 only results in total anarchy, I feed them what works for Raven's skin irritation, and Molly's tummy and Daisy can eat whatever, preferably her portion and the other 2 as well.

My girls have been on the same food for a couple of years, at least. Lately I've been wondering if I should change, mainly because of Molly. I have to put her on actual chicken/rice/pumpkin at least every other month, and she is fine except for diarrhea that clears up after a couple of weeks. Are there any thoughts about how long it's ok to feed the exact same food month after month? Nutritionally would it be better to switch it up, carefully? Anyone else who has Sheltie/Thyroid issues, have you found a diet or supplement that helps minimize episodes and need for meds? Sorry, this is way longer than I meant it to be. Thanks!
 
We don't have thyroid issues, though Melli was towards the lower end of normal which probably is a thyroid problem. I do, though, have a shepherd mix with the most sensitive stomach on the planet (OK, I will give Shay and Molly a tie in that category). I literally have found only 2 kibbles he can tolerate. Yes, I have found that after a time on a kibble the grumbling starts coming back in (which is what happens with him, real squeakers and groaners of painful tummy). That's what happened with Fromm. I started to get the random grumble here or there after some time. This is why I moved to the Addiction Wishbone Pasture. That one is still working fine for us. Sometimes they change the formula. I have had Acana do that on us after a year and a half of stability. I don't think much of BB recipes or the company, so I won't endorse them. Recently I have gone to freeze dried raw. 3 of 3 have had benefit on Sojos Beef and Sojos Lamb. I will ride this one til the wheels fall off, let me tell you. After spending time in the FB raw forum, I am realizing how much raw is doing to correct problems in tons of dogs, mine included. I can't do raw raw, living so far away from a city, but the freeze dried is working. I had to give up a couple luxuries to afford it, but I'm awfully impressed. I don't know if any of that helped or not.
 
Lil' Lady has a thyroid problem and she eats Wellness and Natural Balance (loves the fish). Fish and omega is great for the skin.
Seems when thyroid comes into the picture so does skin problems. Yes Lil' Lady is on meds, the thyroid meds are lots cheaper
then other medications. She has been stable for quite awhile now.
 
Cubby2014 said:
We don't have thyroid issues, though Melli was towards the lower end of normal which probably is a thyroid problem. I do, though, have a shepherd mix with the most sensitive stomach on the planet (OK, I will give Shay and Molly a tie in that category). I literally have found only 2 kibbles he can tolerate. Yes, I have found that after a time on a kibble the grumbling starts coming back in (which is what happens with him, real squeakers and groaners of painful tummy). That's what happened with Fromm. I started to get the random grumble here or there after some time. This is why I moved to the Addiction Wishbone Pasture. That one is still working fine for us. Sometimes they change the formula. I have had Acana do that on us after a year and a half of stability. I don't think much of BB recipes or the company, so I won't endorse them. Recently I have gone to freeze dried raw. 3 of 3 have had benefit on Sojos Beef and Sojos Lamb. I will ride this one til the wheels fall off, let me tell you. After spending time in the FB raw forum, I am realizing how much raw is doing to correct problems in tons of dogs, mine included. I can't do raw raw, living so far away from a city, but the freeze dried is working. I had to give up a couple luxuries to afford it, but I'm awfully impressed. I don't know if any of that helped or not.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your response. Lots of good info there. I'm divorced and for the first time in my life I don't have savings to fall back on to take my girls to the vet like I would normally do. I do tend to run to the vet only to find there is nothing at all wrong, I just have a hair trigger when it comes to worrying over my dogs. Anyway, she really is doing great, except for that awful scraggly dog look she has without her beautiful coat. I have researched the raw diet, and thought about it for my girls. It's good to know about the freeze dried diet working so well. I wish I could get away with feeding them different diets, but they each refuse to eat their own food when I try. I end up pulling MY hair out. I'm spending over $100 to feed all 3 each month, so if Blue isn't great (sales girl at Petsmart pointed me to it) I would rather spend my money elsewhere. I'll see if any of the foods you've listed are available in my area. I just have this feeling that it's time to change their food, I just couldn't figure what to change it to. Thanks again, I appreciate it!
 
sable said:
Lil' Lady has a thyroid problem and she eats Wellness and Natural Balance (loves the fish). Fish and omega is great for the skin.
Seems when thyroid comes into the picture so does skin problems. Yes Lil' Lady is on meds, the thyroid meds are lots cheaper
then other medications. She has been stable for quite awhile now.
Click to expand...

So after a while on the meds, Molly, the world's shyest, sweetest dog started getting grumpy. Then she started attacking the other 2 dogs if they did anything to annoy her. She was this ball of fur and teeth, and she has this way of bounding across the room that makes me think of Pepe LePew whenever I see it. Her levels seemed okay so we weened her off the meds, she calmed back down and was fine. I'll check out the foods you suggested, and I so appreciate your reply. Thanks a bunch.
 
To the best of my recollection hypothyroidism does not go away. It is lifelong condition. I strongly encourage you to put your dog back on Meds. However, the med levels need to be monitored at least yearly to ensure you are on the correct dosage. Yes, it costs to get the blood work done and follow up visit but it's worth it. My Bacca who was hypothyroid, and as a result of annual testing, also revealed a liver shunt. Which had its own begin urial issues.

Changes in behaviour can most definitely be tied to thyroid. Meds are one way to manage. I encourage you to dr. Jean dodds website, and read her book the canine epidemic.

Best of luck.
 
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