I’ve recently had a new addition to my family, Otis, the giant happy-go-lucky golden retriever. He is not shy about introducing himself to anyone who looks his way and has the cutest, droopiest face that you can’t help but fall in love with. Otis also has a condition called hypothyroidism. At five years of age, he has only been recently diagnosed and treated. Otis’ chronic symptoms of poor skin condition with dandruff, patchy areas of hair loss and recurrent ear infections had been deemed as being caused by food allergies. The instant I met Otis, I knew there was more to it than allergies. At the Animal Emergency Hospital, we see a high volume of all medical conditions and the condition I suspected Otis had tends to stick out like a sore thumb. I had a conversation with one of my emergency veterinarians who advised me to check him for hypothyroidism and here is why…
Otis was displaying the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Weight gain despite portioned feedings
- Hair loss and excessive shedding
- Excessive skin scaling or dandruff
- Hyperpigmentation of the skin (areas of blackened skin)
- Recurrent ear infections
- The classic “tragic” or “droopy” looking face (caused by excessive fluid accumulation in the facial region)
- Weakness in the hind limbs (front limbs may be affected as well)
Otis’ thyroid levels were checked via a blood test and in a few days, it was confirmed that he was indeed hypothyroid. Luckily for Otis, hypothyroidism can be treated fairly easily with thyroid tablets given every day. In a few weeks I noticed his face tighten up and an increase in his energy level. Since I had only just met Otis at 5 years of age, I wasn’t able to assess what would be his normal energy level but now with treatment, he acts like a puppy and exuberantly chases my other dog around the yard for a game of what I like to call “how much grass can the dogs destroy today?”
So what exactly is hypothyroidism? It is a condition that results from inadequate production and release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. It is primarily a genetic disorder but is can be rarely caused by cancer. These thyroid hormones are required by many body systems including the skin, metabolic, neuromuscular and ophthalmic systems. The symptoms Otis was displaying are the most common but are not limited to the above described. Each dog will show multiple varying symptoms and can also be accompanied by the following:
- Dry and lustreless hair coat
- Greasy skin with recurrent skin infections
- Lethargy and/or mental dullness
- Infertility in breeding females
- General weakness or stiff gait (walking pattern)
- Facial paralysis
- Other rare symptoms can occur as well
Is it important to know that certain breeds are predisposed to hypothyroidism but all breeds can be susceptible to it. Those breeds that commonly display hypothyroidism include; golden retrievers (at the top of the list!), Doberman pinschers, Irish setters, great Danes, Airedale terriers, old English sheepdogs, dachshunds, miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels, poodles and boxers.
If you notice any of the described symptoms in your dog, make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam and some blood tests. Usually the test for the thyroid is sent away to an outside lab and takes up to a week for results. Your vet may do some in-house testing in the meantime. The in-house blood test may show an increase in cholesterol and a mild nonregenerative anemia (low red blood cell count). These results can sometimes be overlooked as nothing significant but are good indicators of hypothyroidism. 
The good news for pet owners with a hypothyroid dog is that it is easy and relatively inexpensive to treat with daily medication. It takes up to 6 months for all the symptoms to resolve and will require repeat blood tests during this time to make sure the dog is getting the correct amount of medication it requires.
I am happy to report that Otis seems to get better every week and will live a long life!
Resources for this article taken from Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult 2007
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
My dog Ruby was just diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. She started having a ton of skin irritations after going swimming at a dog back over the summer. For a long time, I just tried new shampoos hoping to knock out whatever was going on. As I noticed her starting to become more and more lethargic I took her to the vet. The first 4 diagnoses were completely off. My poor baby had to deal with her skin getting scraped several times and the end result was a blood test confirming that she was in back experiencing Hypothyroidism. She’s been on her pills for a week and a day and I’m already seeing improvements in her coat as well a her energy level. The bunches and bunches of soars that were formed all over her body don’t look the best right now. It’s my understanding that she also has a yeast infection, which is due to the thyroid not properly functioning. The Yeast infection is causing a little more irritation then usual, however, I’m hopeful that she will recover!
You will continue to see improvement in Ruby as her treatment carries on. We are at about the 8 month mark of Otis’ treatment and although we still struggle with chronic ear discharge that builds up weekly and dandruff, most of his major symptoms have been resolved. Otis went undiagnosed for the majority of his life (5 years!) until I met him. It is a disease that often gets overlooked and that inspired me to write the blog post so that it may help others. Make sure you have Ruby’s thryoid levels rechecked 2-3 months into her treatment or sooner if advised by your veterinarian. Many times the dosage of the thyroid tablets needs to be adjusted. As to the sores that don’t look so good on her body, perhaps she is experiencing a bacterial skin infection and may require antibiotics from your veterinarian. It’s amazing how many body systems the thyroid gland affects escpecially when it is not functioning normally. Hang in there, Ruby will only get better from this point on!
Thank you so much for posting picture of your dog, it is clear this is what our golden has. For so long we had her on dit food thinking her lazy temperment and weight gain were related. She has the same look on her face, we were told it was due to allergies. We will seek out the services of another vet and have her checked for hypothyroidism. My family and I appreiciate your commitment to the well-being of our pets!
Hi Consuelo! You are very welcome. I am glad to be able to help other pet owners. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.