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Animal Shelter Support
 Show your support with a magnetic ribbon. Recent Pet News, Tips & Info...Socialize your pet Socialize your petInsure the Safety of Both Animals and Yourself. To start, make certain that the new animal will be safe. Place the new pet in a pet carrier or some other sturdy structure that prohibits the dog from actually physically contacting the 3 quick steps to a healthier dog 3 quick steps to a healthier dog Naturally we all want whatever is best for our pet. Sometimes because of our hectic schedules, we tend to put our dog’s care at the bottom of our never ending list or it just becomes a habit of chores we perform daily without giving it to much thought. We stumble out of bed A Great Family Dog A Great Family Dog A breed of dog named the Boxer is known to be very family-friendly and they enjoy being around people. You should treat them as family members. Never underestimate their need for human companionship; this is one of the most notable traits of this breed. Disaster preperation for pets Disaster preperation for pets Just like with personal emergencies, being ready for a disaster will ensure the survival of your dog. If there is a tornado or an earthquake, you will not have any power for up to several weeks. It’s important for you and your dog to |
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Hypothyroidism in the dog
All of these tissues secrete chemical substances called hormones that have a profound effect on certain "target" tissues. But of all those glands and hormones, the thyroid gland is considered the Master Gland. If the thyroid gland is malfunctioning, every cell in the body is affected. No wonder dogs, properly diagnosed with hypothyroidism and placed on appropriate thyroid hormone supplements, will look, act and feel so much better than before treatment.SIGNS Most dogs show signs of hypothyroidism between 3 and 5 years of age but diagnosis isn't made in some dogs until they are years older. Males and females seem to be equally affected. Routine testing of young dogs is not commonly done. Some veterinarians believe that if a dog has not acquired Hypothyroidism by 5 or 6 years of age, the odds are good that it will never be a problem for that individual. (Cats rarely acquire hypothyroidism but have more trouble with hyperthyroidism, especially older cats.) One of the most commonly seen signs that a dog may have insufficient secretion of thyroid hormone is weight gain with apparently little food intake. Any overweight pet should be checked for Hypothyroidism. In long-standing cases there often is lack of proper hair coat and even hair loss. This loss generally displays a pattern over the lumbar area on both sides, sparse hairs on the back of the rear legs and lack of hair along the abdomen. The coat tends to lack luster and the finer hairs of the undercoat may be missing entirely. Most dogs with hypothyroidism lack energy, prefer warm environments and have poor exercise tolerance. Of great concern to breeders is the fact that dogs with hypothyroidism may be infertile and many breeders have their dogs tested for thyroid function prior to breeding; in dogs with a poor breeding history, hypothyroidism often is the culprit. DIAGNOSIS If the physical exam or history indicates probable Hypothyroidism, the veterinarian will take a blood sample and have more tests run. The most common tests for thyroid function are T4 (the main Thyroid hormone) and canine TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone from the Pituitary Gland). Some veterinary laboratories now recommend TgAA (Thyroglobin Auto-antibody) analysis be done because it identifies thyroiditis much earlier in the progression of the disease. All of these assays are relatively inexpensive, and the information they provide in invaluable to establishing a diagnosis. TREATMENT L-thyroxine (T4) tablets are generally administered twice a day. When given twice a day, most veterinarians prescribe 0.1 mg/10 pounds twice per day as the initial dosage. Repeat exams and occasional follow-up blood testing really helps to fine tune the proper amount of medication needed for each patient. Is hypothyroidism inherited? Evidence indicates some familial patterns of inheritance. There are more than half a dozen studies reporting the familial incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. Not all cases of hypothyroidism are due to autoimmune lymphocytic infiltration of the gland. There can be other "inducers" of the disease such as consumption of too much Iodine. These inducers can be very difficult to identify. Humans may acquire what is called Hashimoto's Disease, a genetically transmitted form of hypothyroidism but this disease is not the same as autoimmune thyroiditis in dogs. In Hashimoto's Disease females are five times more likely to get the disease than males. There are other differences, as well. |
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