Taurus and Jada Posted July 29, 2004 Posted July 29, 2004 Just wondering if anyone has had a dog that has had a low thyroid, and has needed medication for it. After the blood tests were evaluated for Taurus, we discovered that was the cause of his lethargy (sp??)... has anyone had any experience with this they would like to share with me? How long did it take to notice a change? Is there possible side effects to the meds that you noticed? Are they on the medication for ever? I will discuss all this with my vey, but its nice to hear some personal experiences from owners who have dealt with it... thanks, Kara Quote
courtnek Posted July 29, 2004 Posted July 29, 2004 both my cat and myself are on thyroid meds. for low thyroid. lethargy is common. irritability is common. weight gain is common. what meds did they give you? I've been taking them for years. Levoxyl is what I take. I think the cat is basically taking the same thing, under a different name, but the label has fallen off the bottle. I will have to take mine for life. so will the cat. I dont know of any side affects from them, unless you stop taking them. Quote
Canis erectus Posted July 29, 2004 Posted July 29, 2004 Thyroxine and Soloxine are the two most typical thyroid meds that come to mind right away for animals. Weight gain (I think actually an increased appetite) is usually the most common side effect if I remember correctly, but is not always a noticable condition in every pet. It may take a few blood tests to get the drug dosage correct for your dog, but once that's dialed in you'd be suprised at how happy and how much more energy your dog might have. Quote
Taurus and Jada Posted July 30, 2004 Author Posted July 30, 2004 Maybe this is just me being stupid, but is it possible that I would allready see a difference after only 1 1/2 days medication? I have noticed quite a difference in Taurus allready.... but maybe Im just looking for one? But today was the first time in quite a while that he was waiting for me at teh door when I got home, complete with the bum wiggle we have loved in the past! Also, his tail has been wagging all day, which is another thing that he did before, but we had been missing lately.... :cry: I also feel like a terrible mother, because I kept sayign to me husband "Taurus is gettign so fat... what's wrong with him, why is he so fat?"... I have been saying this for about 4-6 months now.... and now I find out this is why... *bad momma*... It was hard for us to tell what was wrong though, because we just had him neutered in February, so alot of these changes in him (fatter, lethargic, lazy) we thought he was just adjusting after the neutering... when it didn't get better, that is when we took him in..... :lol: so glad we did!! Quote
Canis erectus Posted July 30, 2004 Posted July 30, 2004 I'm glad taurus is getting back to his old self! And shouldn't be hard on yourself at all, I've known dogs who've gone years with thyroid problems simply because their owner just didn't know what was really going on and just thought their dogs were overweight. Oh, and Taurus likely will be on medication for the rest of his life, though you can ask your vet about a cure for his thyroid condition. That's all I'll tell you about that as I shouldn't do medical advice, that's what your veterinarian is for! :P Quote
marion Posted July 30, 2004 Posted July 30, 2004 I'm on thyroxine for life and Rosie is on Soloxine also for life. :roll: I noticed she was getting fat and lethargic. At first I just thought she was overweight then after a while realised it must be something else. I researched it on the internet and she had all the symptoms. I took her to the vets and asked them to do a blood test for it and hey presto. She has regular blood checks now and is much better although still a lazy madam sometimes (but that's English Setters for you). Don't think of yourself as being a bad mum, how are we to know. My vet saw her and never mentioned anything until I asked for the test. I myself always had weight problems but since having my thyroid out have lost a lot of weight and been steady. Glad Taurus is getting more energetic, it gladdens your heart doesn't it. :D Quote
Carolk9s Posted July 31, 2004 Posted July 31, 2004 Don't feel like a bad momma at all! I had not seen any true drop in Jesse's energy level, he was at an excellent weight, still doing agility, still had the same 'lets go' attitude etc. The ONLY symptom he had was a rough, dry coat. Even that did not immediately set off alarm bells as it was winter, the air was very dry, and of course the heat was on in the house. I had to convince my vet to run the test, she did not think he was a low thyroid dog. Well, he was. He has been taking the medication for almost 4 years now and will take it for life. It is not uncommon to see results so quickly, the body says 'whew, I am feeling much better now thank you!' Jesse is on Levotabs and gets .8 a day, 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night. ONCE the dosage is deemed to be correct, you might be able to save some money by buying the medication in large amounts. I buy Jesses thyroid meds 1000 pills at a time through my vet. I keep the bulk of them in the original bottle and keep a smaller amount in a smaller bottle for daily use. You can also purchase then on the internet if your vet will write you a prescription to send in. I am SOOOO glad to hear that the answer has been found, a low thyroid can wreak much havoc within the body over time. You caught the problem early and Taurus should be just fine. Quote
cheekymunkee Posted July 31, 2004 Posted July 31, 2004 I'm glad it is something that can be controlled ! Yay for Taurus! Debby Quote
courtnek Posted July 31, 2004 Posted July 31, 2004 dont feel bad T&J...my cat beefed up and I just thought it was age and lack of activity. he doesnt move quite like he used to. When he started shedding excessively (for a short haired cat..his fur was falling out) the vet checked him for thyroid and we pinpointed it. he has lost 4 lbs., alot for a cat, and has much more energy now. He has taken on the kitten already!! (not hurt him, but plays with him) glad Taurus will be ok. He CANT be sick!! I had a dog named Taurus!! (ok he was a Golden., but STILL!!!) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.