Dobiewankanobi

Make sure your vet does indeed do a full panel thyroid test. Seems like most of them think a full panel consists of only TSH. TSH alone is worthless.

How is his brisket as far as hair goes? And the backs of his legs? Is his neck looking any thicker? These were all signs my last boy had when he was pretty low thyroid (in addition to the goopy eyes/freezing temps).

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RIP Kai 3/19/2001 - 11/8/2011

Hiba R. Fennelly

Brisket? As in upper quads/rear? Thin. But again I thought that was normal. It wasn't until I saw the thinning back that it dawned on me that we might have a problem. Now he is biting himself pretty fiercely esp. in the anal area so maybe the glands have to be expressed too... sigh...

I have an appt. today at 11:15 PT. I am going to ask for full panel including T3 T4 Free T3 Free T4. Does it HAVE to be sent to a Dr. Dodds-certified lab? How do I "word" it? AND THANK YOU!!!

Dobiewankanobi

Brisket...as in his chest. Specifically the underside of it. Kai's was almost bald when he was first diagnosed.

My vet did the blood draw and sent everything in for the MSU test.
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health

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RIP Kai 3/19/2001 - 11/8/2011

Hiba R. Fennelly

Hi Dobiewan... the hair is thinner there but not unusually so. The reason I know is I just returned from the vet where he re-did a full exam and looked at his underside and his "brisket" and said, the chest looks normal, the underside was still bare but still normal for his age. But he did tell me that the "undercarriage" as it gets closer to his anus is getting a bit more thin than usual. The good news is that since he's been on ZD Science Diet I've noticed a HUGE improvement in the dander problem, and good progress with regard to his smell, but no improvement in the itching, eye goop, and his aversion to cold.

Anyway the vet and I discussed everything I've learned from this board, Lori and Asmit and you and he really was very open and receptive to thyroid testing, which was a relief! He said that they don't suggest thyroid testing to owners unless the food allergy chase proves futile. The simple reason being to keep cost down for the family. Which was kinda nice to hear too. He did say they will absolutely do a thyroid test if I so desire, any panels I want, and send them to either Michigan which is a teaching hospital so he said they were the "gold standard" as well as to Dr. Dobbs if that's where I prefer because they think highly of them too. So I was relieved I didn't get any hemming and hawing from him.

He recommended we do as many of the panel as we can afford cause some of the very basic ones are also very unreliable. Net/net:here's the cost and breakdown of what each test covers:

$133 - Thyroid Panel 2 (T4, Free T4)
$194 - Thyroid Comprehensive Screen-Canine: (Free T4 endog. CTSH, thyroglobulin autoantibody)
$304 - Thyroid Panel 5 - Canine (CTSH, T34, T3 autoantibody, Free T3, T4, T4 autoantibody, Free T4, thyroglobulin autoantibody)

Of course my gut says do the big one rather than keep going back ...

Lori Z

I'm so happy for you. It sounds like you have a terrific vet. I'd ask where he thinks is best to send and MSU (Michigan) is great. Do the one he thinks best if you can afford it.

Moose2012

LORI Z hit the nail on the head. We battled the last 3 years with our dobies goopy eyes, itchy/flaky skin, rashes, hot spots, constant itching, and that distinct odor. We too were told by the vet to give a weekly bath with high dollar shampoo, switch food, etc. Finally, after finding this forum and the post by "Lori Z", I insisted that our vet check his thyroid. The test cost us less than $80. He does in fact have low thyroid levels and now he is on a thyroid pill. Seriously, I can't believe the difference after 2 weeks. He doesn't have goopy eyes, any of the skin issues, no itching, and best of all NO SMELL!

Moose2012

THANK YOU LORI Z! See my post that i just submitted.