thyroid problem...makes dogs fat

[khpence84]

In petsmart today a girl had a 7 year old golden retriever. He seem to be extremely, extremely, extremely obese. This dog outweighed me any day and i am 156lbs. Very wide he got around fine though no problems there was happy as could be so i aproach her and asked if i could pet him she said yes, he was a sweet dog. I aksed her why he was so big, i have seen some fat dogs in my day but nothing this size, and she said he had a thyroid problem. Does that make dogs that large? I also thought there was medicine for it?

[carrie]

One function of the thyroid hormones is to regulate metabolism. Hypothyroydism is a failure in the complex system involved in the release of these hormones or, more usually, the thyroid gland itself. A common symptom of hypothyroidism is weight gain and obesity. Diagnosis is simple by a blood test and treatment is given by synthetic hormones for the duration of the dogs life.
Golden Retrievers are prone to this condition but you have to ask why did this dog get to such a size before help was sought? People,eh? Hope this answers your question.

[AdoreMyDogs]

My yellow lab had thyroid problems...he gained alot of weight and his coat was thinning and his skin would get scabby and have a terrible, obnixious odor. We took him to 3 vets before they identified the problem correctly and gave us thyroid pills. He took them for the rest of his life. His coat cleared up, hair grew back, and he began to lose weight almost immediately after we started him on his thyroxine (think that was the name of his thyroid pill).

He gained weight but it does not sound like he gained NEARLY as much as that golden you were talking of. I think his highest weight was 110 before we started him on the medicine if I remember correctly.

[carrie]

Adoremydogs, I am amazed that it took three vets to diagnose your dogs thyroid problem. THE classic signs are weight gain, hair loss and skin problems! It is a far more common problem than is generally realised and many dogs with chronic skin conditions have thyroid problems but are left untested as their weight is controlled. Good for you for taking him elsewhere.
Thyroxin is the usual drug used to treat the condition.

[Doxiedoxie]

My younger doxie, Blue is also on thyroid meds.. and it does help keep her from being a butterball. Her coat is better also, it had been thin around her tail, I'm ashamed to say my groomer noticed it and suggested the thyroid test, even though I was working at the vets at the time! ( It was just mild thinning/ slow regrowth by her tail)She also has allergy problems, poor doggie.

Anyhow, it sounds to me like the golden's owner in question is either not treating the problem, just started treating the problem, or using it as an excuse to allow her dog to be overweight!

[AdoreMyDogs]

The first 2 vets told us that Beener had allergies, they gave us special shampoo, we had to bathe him EVERY DAY, which he was not too thrilled about. None of the allergy stuff worked. I can't believe they did not know that it was thyroid related and not just allergies...the third vet knew suspected right away, did the blood test and when the test came back, prescribed thyroxine. He's still our animals vet. Of course I will not go back to the other 2 again.

[lbaker]

My youngest dog, Thunder, (mostly boarder collie) has just been diagnosed with a thyroid problem and is now on medication. No visible weight gain but hair loss and very bad skin odor. Generally was very unhappy and embarressed. His doctor said we (Thunder & I) should notice a great improvement within a week. I guess he will be on the meds forever but thank Dog it's something treatable. DO NOT WAIT before having a doctor check it out. It's not necessarily life threatening but think of the quality of life. Love this WEB site.


Originally posted by khpence84:
In petsmart today a girl had a 7 year old golden retriever. He seem to be extremely, extremely, extremely obese. This dog outweighed me any day and i am 156lbs. Very wide he got around fine though no problems there was happy as could be so i aproach her and asked if i could pet him she said yes, he was a sweet dog. I aksed her why he was so big, i have seen some fat dogs in my day but nothing this size, and she said he had a thyroid problem. Does that make dogs that large? I also thought there was medicine for it?

[lbaker]

My poor little Thunder (mostly boarder collie) was just diagnosed with a thyroid problem and is now on meds. He too was losing hair and had a bad skin odor. No noticable weight gain however. Although it may not be life threatening it's a matter of the quality of life. Poor little guy was embarrassed and you could tell he was not a happy fella. Magic pills will do the trick and take your dog to the Dr at once if you even suspect something like this. Be aware. Be forwarned.

[havello]

My yellow lab had thyroid problems...he gained alot of weight and his coat was thinning and his skin would get scabby and have a terrible, obnixious odor. We took him to 3 vets before they identified the problem correctly and gave us thyroid pills. He took them for the rest of his life. His coat cleared up, hair grew back, and he began to lose weight almost immediately after we started him on his thyroxine (think that was the name of his thyroid pill).

He gained weight but it does not sound like he gained NEARLY as much as that golden you were talking of. I think his highest weight was 110 before we started him on the medicine if I remember correctly.

What pills did your vet give you for the thyroid problem?

[K9soul]

What pills did your vet give you for the thyroid problem?

My golden was recently diagnosed with thyroid autoimmune disease, meaning his body creates a chemical that destroys his own thyroid level. The treatment is the same as for just regular low thyroid and he is on levothyroxine (which is the generic for the following brands: Eltroxin (Can), Levo-T, Levotabs, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Thyrox, Unithroid). Dogs are treated with the same medications for thyroid that humans are (but dosing always depending on the size of the dog and the level of thyroid).