Dental Care Blog

Hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland is underactive and not producing enough hormones to properly regulate the body’s metabolism, is a common problem in women over the age of 50 years. This condition may also be present in dogs, although it rarely occurs in cats.

Hypothyroidism symptoms are varied in people, and can include fatigue, constipation, dry skin, and a feeling of not being ale to focus. One of the main symptoms people notice is unexpected weight gain, or the inability to lose weight when dieting. In dogs, hypothyroidism is suspected when your dog gains weight when the diet has not changed, or when skin and hair conditions exist.

A simple blood test at the veterinarians can determine if your dogs problems are due to an underactive thyroid. Treatment is basically the same as it is for people, a synthetic hormone is prescribed to replace the hormone the thyroid cannot manufacture efficiently. Most dogs respond quite well to this treatment.

Many dogs, like people go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism is most common in dogs that are middle-aged. It affects mid-sized to large-sized dogs, the condition rarely occurs in smaller dogs. Consider asking your veterinarian to do a thyroid test on your dog if your dog is gaining weight for no reason or has skin problems. Insist on the test if your dog is very lethargic and no other reason can be found.