Young Sheltie with Low Thyroid

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lovemyshelties

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We're getting a foster pup tomorrow. A female about 3-4 years old who has a nasty flea infestation that's been treated and her blood work indicated a very low thyroid. The rescue's vet said since she was in such bad shape when turned in and because she's so young this may resolve on its own. This comment left me scratching my head.

Has anyone ever heard of hypothyroidism resolving by itself? I know she's young, but can't young dogs have thyroid problems too?

I want to get her the care she so desperately needs and get her to a point where she is healthy and adoptable.
 
I have a 4 year old Sheltie (not a rescue and from a great breeder) who is hypothyroid.

Most dogs do not get diagnosed until much later in life, but in fact the condition usually exists long before the symptoms manifest. This is something that most dog owners don't know. They find their dogs getting fat and lazy and put them on diets, but in reality they might be hypo and not even know it.

In Bacca's case, he was found out "by accident". An emergency visit to the vet led to extensive blood work, when he was only 2 years old. He was diagnosed as hypo at that time and has been on meds ever since.

Does it resolve itself? Not that I've ever heard. Bacca gets tested now yearly. And even on the meds he is still borderline. Sometimes, even on meds, I see his energy level just lag. Like he can barely put one foot in front of the other. Other times, he's like a 6 month old pup and bounding everywhere!

All to say, if the pup is hypo, then get ready for meds forever and yearly tests. :sadsmile:
 
When Tinsel first came to us his thyroid level were low normal but the vet didn't want to put him on meds until he had a chance to recover from the varying health issues and neuter surgery because those things could result in low values. I checked Dr. Dodd's paper on treating for hypothyroidism and she concurred. It's online if you want to search. Unfortunately I didn't keep the link but it was easy to find.
It's been 8 months now and his latest results are inconclusive so I have sent the information to Dr. Dodd. Since we didn't do the test through her Hemopet I'm not sure if she will respond but I will be talking to my vet on Wednesday and asking about starting Tin on Thyroxine on a trial basis. If she isn't willing then I will be asking her to do a blood draw and have the test sent to be done by Hemopet.
The problem is that while his T4 and his Free T4 are quite low, in fact his T4 is lower now then it was when he came, his TSH is normal. Usually TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) would elevate in the presence of hypothyroidism although up to 33% will show normal or sub normal values. Apparently human testing is much more precise. Judging by his lethargy, dullness, limping, slow heart rate and slow clotting I am pretty sure he is hypothyroid. I expect that Carol, our vet, will be on board with doing a test for 6 weeks - it takes that long for thyroxine to be effective to an appreciable degree.
 
My max was two and a half when we rescued him, unfortunetely the vet kept fighting with me about not giving throid meds and other things. We left and the first thing the new vet said when examination and information was he probably is hypothyroid. After blood work with the t4 panel it was confirmed. We also too him to an allergist for other issues and he said the same thing. You are never too young to have hypothyroid? Don't let it go to long, but also do the tests to make sure that's what it is. Sometimes it takes a while to get the right dosage.i would speak to dr. Dodd about it because she is the expert on thyroid. Good luck and welcome..
 
I don't think it will go away, I'm a human with hypothyroidism, if it won't go away on me, I highly doubt it will go away, or dissipate with a dog. It really does need followup. Thyroid controls many things in the body. So, you don't want it to go unchecked for to long
 
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