Testing for Thyroid Dysfunction
If you suspect your dog’s thyroid isn’t functioning properly, your dog will need a blood test to confirm exactly what’s going on. Before you agree to a routine thyroid blood test, I highly recommend asking your veterinarian for a detailed thyroid test instead. Allow me to share my story with thyroid dysfunction. I learned the hard way that it’s worth the extra effort and cost of a detailed thyroid test.
My Story
For years, I suspected my Rottweiler had hypothyroidism, but my vet disagreed. Sobek, my young Rottie, has had moderate to severe anxiety since he was four months old. Sobek stresses over anything and everything, and he has a hard time settling down. Thankfully, Sobek isn’t aggressive. He’s super friendly with dogs and people, but he just worries a lot. My dog training experience has taught me that anxiety is usually based on fear, but there was something else I couldn’t put my finger on.
Signs of Thyroid Dysfunction
At one year old, Sobek had routine blood work done to check for thyroid dsyfunction. His total thyroid level was 0.9, which is 0.1 below normal—low normal is between 1 and 2. Yet, my vet said his thyroid was functioning properly. I would’ve agreed if I were a normal pet owner, but I’m painfully aware that thyroid dysfunction in dogs can cause anxiety and aggression, so I pushed forward.
Sobek’s anxiety got worse over time, so we consulted with a veterinary behaviorist who prescribed medications. They helped immensely and controlled his anxiety, allowing us to train him using behavior modification. His anxiety still lingered though. His coat also felt coarse and he was missing hair on his chest.
Every year, we would test Sobek’s thyroid and the results would always be the same, falling a tad below normal. My vet persisted his thyroid function fell into the normal range (1-5), and he shouldn’t be supplemented. Then, Sobek experienced two focal seizures. That was it; I was determined to find a vet who would listen.
Finally, Someone Listened
We found a holistic veterinarian to whom I explained my concerns about Sobek’s lingering anxiety and low thyroid level. Our holistic vet agreed that something was off and decided to retest him. She sent his blood work off for a detailed thyroid report that would test all aspects of his thyroid and not just his total thyroid and T4.
His thyroid test results came back and Sobek was confirmed to have hypothyroidism. He started off with a thyroid supplement and his anxiety decreased within a week. After six months of supplementation, Sobek’s total thyroid became 1.9, which my holistic veterinarian says is perfect for him.
Hypothyroidism Effects on Dogs
Hypothyroid dogs are assumed to be fat, neutered, middle-aged and bald, but that’s not always the case. Sobek had a glossy black coat and he wasn’t neutered (check out this study about neutering Rottweilers and cancer). He was relatively healthy with the exceptions of a torn ACL at 2 years old, a couple of focal seizures and anxiety.
I researched everything about hypothyroidism, and thankfully I found Dr. Jean Dodds’ research. While reading Dr. Dodds’ articles, I felt like she was writing about us. Dr. Dodds is a veterinarian who has done extensive research on canine thyroid disease and allergies. She believes that several aspects of the thyroid should be tested before diagnosing thyroid dysfunction. In addition, thyroid dysfunction can cause anxiety, fear and aggression in dogs.
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How to Test for Canine Hypothyroidism
Instead of sending your dog’s blood work off to a local lab, ask your veterinarian to send your dog’s blood work to Hemopet or Michigan State University (MSU) Diagnostic Center. Our holistic vet sent Sobek’s blood work to MSU and his six-month follow-up blood work to Hemopet (Thyroid Profile 5). While requesting a detailed thyroid test might seem excessive, it’s the only way to truly diagnose thyroid dysfunction.
Difference Between Hemopet and MSU
There isn’t much of a difference between Hemopet and MSU, but I found Hemopet was slightly cheaper than MSU. I highly recommend visiting Hemopet and MSU’s websites and printing blood work collection protocols before bringing your dog in for testing. One thing I really liked about Hemopet is Dr. Dodds would note if your dog was considered hypothyroid at the bottom of your test results. It took 10 days to receive Sobek’s results.
Asking Your Veterinarian
Bring your printed blood work collection protocols with you to your appointment and explain how you’d like a detailed report on your dog’s thyroid by having it sent to either Hemopet or MSU. So far, I haven’t had one vet push back on my request. Your vet will then collect your dog’s blood and mail it to Hemopet or MSU, and receive your test results when they come in.
Should You Seek a Second Opinion?
Asking for another vet’s opinion on your dog’s thyroid is difficult, but understand that you’re your dog’s health advocate. If you disagree with your regular veterinarian, ask for a copy of your dog’s thyroid test results and bring them to another vet. I highly suggest locating a holistic vet, as this has worked well for me in the past.
Keep pushing and be your dog’s health advocate!
