Loraine Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Zedley had bloods done yesterday and the results are in. He is definiately hypothyroid. His heart rate has improved from 90 something to 126 His hair is thickening up (thanks to coming off the cortisone), he is slimming down AND his skin is only slightly pink and no itchy bits. He is great in himself, does not smell of yeast and has no greasy fur. This has been one long road to find his problem but now we seem to have got it right. His vet is chuffed and so am I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) Great news It took six months to find out that Panda was hypothyroid so can appreciate what you have been through He lost 2 kg, his heart rate is great, and cant believe his coat, its back to being thick and glossy, rather than sticky and smelly. Edited November 6, 2008 by Hesapandabear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Great news It took six months to find out that Panda was hypothyroid so can appreciate what you have been through He lost 2 kg, his heart rate is great, and cant believe his coat, its back to being thick and glossy, rather than sticky and smelly. Once discovered it is great, isn't it??? Zedley has about 2 kilos to dump, and we have already got 600grams off. My vet said it will take a couple or months for all things to become normal and she wants to see him after Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Good news, indeed. My old KelpieXBC, Jess, was hypothyroid - too ages to diagnose in the days before blood tests - in the end, it was diagnosed by putting her on a trial of thyroxine - she started improving, and eventually had a gorgeous thick coat, and no mroe problems - and lived for another 12 or more years on her daily meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I am constantly astonished that these days it takes so long to dx hypothyroid condition.. it should be one of the elimination tests. My first thyroid dog was also treated with cortisone for 18 months before final dx. cortisone only makes the problem worse. Glad there is a simple explanation and a simple solution H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Great news Lorraine, onward and healthy from here on in I'm with dogbessotted, as a vet nurse, its usually one of the first path tests we do when given the presentation & symptoms. Great to hear Zedley will be back to his handsome & happy self. fifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Great news Lorraine, onward and healthy from here on in I'm with dogbessotted, as a vet nurse, its usually one of the first path tests we do when given the presentation & symptoms. Great to hear Zedley will be back to his handsome & happy self. fifi Fifi the silly thing is Zedley had a blood test a year ago that showed low thyroid, but another number was normal (think that was TSH) so the vet at that time ignored it. This vet found those results and questioned them, then took his heart rate and realised that thyroid was more than likely the problem. Whatever, it is now sorted that goodness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 dogsbesotted and fifi, we took Panda to a SPECIALIST in early Dec due to the coat problems, he didnt bother to do a thyroid test , he then saw a cardiologist in Jun because of heart pblms, it was he who suggested doing a thyroid test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Time Puppy Owner Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) Hi Loraine Sorry but could I please harass you for all the details with your Zedley. Was it suspected that Zedley had Atopia? See Benson has not ever had a rash, but his coat since Oct 07 has been coarse but two days after washing become dirty looking like oily hair on a human and he gets a certain scent about him - not sure if you would call it yeasty as I have terrible sinuses. See I gave him Mega Oil for ages now Mega Derm so he hasn't lost all his coat. We have tried several antihistamines without change. If left without his Elizabethan collar on he would a walking open sore as I don't have him on Cortizone. Did do prednisone last year but as soon as the dose was coming down the itching increased. The itching increases in spring but does not go away during winter. Sorry I just would love to know what you have been through to get to this stage as I am going to be seeing my vet next week and am thinking of requesting a blood test prior to doing the intradermal skin test. Not meaning to hijack Cheers Susan Edited November 6, 2008 by First Time Puppy Owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hi Susan. Benson sounds just like Zedley. At one time his vet suggested seborrheaic (SP) greasy skin and Zedders was on Antib's and pred and would dig bloody holes in himself. I have had him tested for mites etc., and nothing worked. We have gone the food elimination route, various shampoos and I have torn my hair out The blood test (taken a year ago) apparently showed a low thyroid but another number (which I am not sure what it is called, but think was the TSH) was normal. Now with tyroid probs this other number is expected to be higher as it is trying to push the thyroid to produce enough hormone. Hence the first vet ignored this test. Second vet (same surgery) had another look at the result, called the path lab and was asked to check to see if Zedley's heart rate was low - it was 90 something and should have been around 125 for a dog his size. Due to him being weaned off the pred we did not do another blood test at that time, but put him straight onto Thyroxine. Within two weeks his coat has thickened up (thinned due to the pred) his skin is pink and not red and HE IS NOT ITCHING. The latest blood test proved thyroid probs and he will now be on Thyroxine for life, what a great life with no bloody holes If I were you I would request a blood test before shelling good money out for the intradermal route (I was advised here that it would cost me around $2K to go that way). Having advised a BT, as you can see my first vet missed the thyroid problem that the second vet picked up. Maybe ask if Benson can try out Thyroxine (if there is any weirdness in his BT numbers) and see what happens. Apparently it cannot harm the dogs. Good luck! Loraine Hi LoraineSorry but could I please harass you for all the details with your Zedley. Was it suspected that Zedley had Atopia? See Benson has not ever had a rash, but his coat since Oct 07 has been coarse but two days after washing become dirty looking like oily hair on a human and he gets a certain scent about him - not sure if you would call it yeasty as I have terrible sinuses. See I gave him Mega Oil for ages now Mega Derm so he hasn't lost all his coat. We have tried several antihistamines without change. If left without his Elizabethan collar on he would a walking open sore as I don't have him on Cortizone. Did do prednisone last year but as soon as the dose was coming down the itching increased. The itching increases in spring but does not go away during winter. Sorry I just would love to know what you have been through to get to this stage as I am going to be seeing my vet next week and am thinking of requesting a blood test prior to doing the intradermal skin test. Not meaning to hijack Cheers Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Time Puppy Owner Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) Thank you Loraine - I will, I just don't believe it could be atopia as one antihistamine would have worked. Also done food elim and shampoos I understand about pulling your hair out! Thank god you found a way to help Zedley! Edit - I think though Benson may be a rare case of Hyerthyrodism as I can feel his heart by placing my hand on his chest and seems to beat fast, he is always hot and panting, he is very fidgity can't lie in the same place for long, and the coat and itching is the same with hyper. Edited November 7, 2008 by First Time Puppy Owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Thank you Loraine - I will, I just don't believe it could be atopia as one antihistamine would have worked. Also done food elim and shampoos I understand about pulling your hair out! Thank god you found a way to help Zedley! That has just remineded me that we found coritisone and the antib's had no real effect on Zedley skins probs. I have learned, during the food elimination thing, that he is in fact allergic to oats, so I make sure he gets none Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Time Puppy Owner Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I found Benson would reduce the scratching a little while on prednisone but then as soon as the dose reduced the scratching intensified, he was on antibiotics at the same time as well as an antihistamine shot was and cortizone injection were given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I would insist on thyroid test..T4 and antibodies at the very least. My Casper has that funny smell about him, his coat was coarse and sort of brittle, it would get very very greasy within a day of washing.. he has really awful eyes and ears.. all cleared up with thyroxine supplementation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Cant put my hands on Panda's file atm, b***** filing system. First noticed Panda's skin colour had gone a reddish brown and his coat was sparse, esp around the rear end late Nov. Thought it may have been jaundice. Must admit didnt do much about it to start with, had a lot going on with my cat who was not well (had him pts in Jan) and had had an accident myself where I fractured six veterbrae, and a new puppy, a lot to cope with. My regular Vet was not at the initial consult, the vet who was has since left (we wont go any further on that subject). Panda saw a dermatologist at QVS mid Dec who diagnosed a pblm with hair follicles, he did not do a thyroid test All that money wasted on a wrong diagnosis for the sake of a blood test. All that happened with Panda in the following six months could have been avoided had he had his T4's checked. At one point really thought he was on his way out. What a different dog he is today At no time had he been on either prednisone or cortisone. He was having a weekly bath in Malaseb but now only when his coat loses its shine. F.T.P.O. pm if you would like to chat by email, at least we are on the same side of the country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Gad to hear about Zedley ( you can tell your son now it definately isn't catching) My mum has hyperthyroid and had terribly itchy dry skin. Her skin on her heals was very thick and split. Now it is a bit more under control and she has lost 12 kgs. Guess dogs and poeople are not that different. Once his dose is finalised he will be a different dog. Fanatstic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Time Puppy Owner Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I would insist on thyroid test..T4 and antibodies at the very least. My Casper has that funny smell about him, his coat was coarse and sort of brittle, it would get very very greasy within a day of washing.. he has really awful eyes and ears.. all cleared up with thyroxine supplementation Hi DBS! Ok you said very minimum - what is the maximum that I can ask to be tested. Sounds silly but I would love to be super informed about what to ask to be tested. Should I have other things tested for in the blood??? Cheers Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 have pm'd you. H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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