Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 and Chuck, The cruciate involvement information comes from a seminar that I attended with Dr. Dodds about 4 or 5 years ago. I don't think it was part of the hand-out, but more of a throw-away statement from Dr. Dodds, which resonated with me. As I am a breeder, I pay attention to things people say about dogs-- setters or otherwise. I have been hearing about a lot of cruciate problems in many breeds. Of course, everytime I hear this, I mention that they might consider checking thyroid. In some doggy circles I have been known as the " thyroid cop " , and I have a " bee in my bonnet " about thyroid. Funny thing is, I hadn't associated all I know about the huge problem I suspect (well I know it is) it is in dogs, with my own situation--until exactly one year ago, when someone sent me Maty Shomon's site with the article on Dr. Lowe. I trusted my Dr., who had told me four years ago that my TSH just over 3 meant I did not have it. I trusted him so much that I simply replied that I wouldn't trust that meagre bit of information to be of any use at all for my dogs, and left it at that. I was wrong to be so trusting. My Dr. is a good fellow, but he is not a god, and he was, and continues to be, very wrong about thyroid problems. Thank God for the internet!:-) Gail > > > Gail.... > > > > Do you have any references/links regarding a connection between cruciate > > ligament problems and hypothyroidism? ... > > I just talked to my vet, who confirmed that hypothyroid animals are at > risk for cruciate ligament damage. It goes along with the arthritis and > general joint lubrication problems. > > They only checked the T4 and FreeT4. Not the panel I wanted. He said the > antibody test (combined with TSH) costs $79, but that he would be > willing to try the therapeutic dose trial for a few weeks. That's > cheaper than the test. > > Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 Yes, with most vets you do have to be very explicit about that. My vet knows that I always want the full profile. I check my dogs by OFA protocol, which is first check at puberty (between seasons for bitches), next check a year later, and if nothing found, every two years after that. Do not check within a month of giving innoculations, and not if the dog has been on steroids of any kind, for any reason. You want the 6 part test--everything you can get. Often it shows up as antibodies to the T3 (if you catch it at the right time), more often first in the TgAA (which test has only been available for a few years)and rarely in the T4's unless the dog is nearing end-stage hypoT. T4's are pretty useless most of the time. It's still cheapest if you send the bloods to Dr. Dodds of Hemopet in CA. She is always available for translating results too. Be sure to keep your dog on total thyroid replacement for 12 weeks, then do the re-check. Do not give a pill for at least four hours before the recheck. You will probably see differences/improvements within a couple of weeks though. Gail > They only checked the T4 and FreeT4. Not the panel I wanted. He said the > antibody test (combined with TSH) costs $79, but that he would be > willing to try the therapeutic dose trial for a few weeks. That's > cheaper than the test. > > Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 Gail.... I think that in my breed of dog (Shar-Pei) there is also a lot more hypothyroidism than we have ever suspected. It's only fairly recently that some of the more forward-thinking and concerned breeders are making a big push, as it were, to get more thyroid testing done. I know it's definitely a problem in other breeds, field spaniels for one, as my breeder friends in that breed have some issues with it.... and I've been ruminating for a while about why hypothyroidism is such an epidemic now - not only in ourselves, but in our dogs, too... which makes me think it must be something in our environment, our way of life. I'm like you in that I hear bits and pieces of things that resonate with me and stay with me... so this little tidbit about the relationship with cruciate ligament problems is very intriguing and one I will be passing around & discussing. Re: Split your dose? > and Chuck, > The cruciate involvement information comes from a seminar that I > attended with Dr. Dodds about 4 or 5 years ago. I don't think it was > part of the hand-out, but more of a throw-away statement from Dr. > Dodds, which resonated with me. As I am a breeder, I pay attention to > things people say about dogs-- setters or otherwise. I have been > hearing about a lot of cruciate problems in many breeds. Of course, > everytime I hear this, I mention that they might consider checking > thyroid. In some doggy circles I have been known as the " thyroid > cop " , and I have a " bee in my bonnet " about thyroid. Funny thing is, > I hadn't associated all I know about the huge problem I suspect (well > I know it is) it is in dogs, with my own situation--until exactly one > year ago, when someone sent me Maty Shomon's site with the article on > Dr. Lowe. I trusted my Dr., who had told me four years ago that my > TSH just over 3 meant I did not have it. I trusted him so much that I > simply replied that I wouldn't trust that meagre bit of information > to be of any use at all for my dogs, and left it at that. I was wrong > to be so trusting. My Dr. is a good fellow, but he is not a god, and > he was, and continues to be, very wrong about thyroid problems. Thank > God for the internet!:-) > Gail > > >> >> > Gail.... >> > >> > Do you have any references/links regarding a connection between > cruciate >> > ligament problems and hypothyroidism? ... >> >> I just talked to my vet, who confirmed that hypothyroid animals are > at >> risk for cruciate ligament damage. It goes along with the arthritis > and >> general joint lubrication problems. >> >> They only checked the T4 and FreeT4. Not the panel I wanted. He > said the >> antibody test (combined with TSH) costs $79, but that he would be >> willing to try the therapeutic dose trial for a few weeks. That's >> cheaper than the test. >> >> Chuck > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 HypoT is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine problem in dogs of all sorts. You will probably know that the AKC Gazette did a poll of the breed clubs maybe 15 years ago? All clubs with breeds of dog, medium to large, put hypoT in the top four concerns, most putting it as Number One-- before HD. But if you don't check, you don't find. AIT is most likely an incomplete dominant-- not easy to get rid of. I have hypoT dogs here whose parents were both clear. In my breed, I am one of only three or four breeders worldwide who are checking thyroid, and I know of nobody who does the OFA protocol, except me. And they all wonder why their bitches don't conceive (people have miscarriages) and their dogs are edgy (hypoT makes people edgy too)-- well, and lots of other signs. It's not checked for properly, it's underdiagnosed-- exactly like people! Do OFA proptocol, and you will find it if it's there. But you won't necessarily get rid of it easily. Gail In hypothyroidism , " Every " <denisee@c...> wrote: > Gail.... > > I think that in my breed of dog (Shar-Pei) there is also a lot more > hypothyroidism than we have ever suspected. It's only fairly recently that > some of the more forward-thinking and concerned breeders are making a big > push, as it were, to get more thyroid testing done. I know it's definitely > a problem in other breeds, field spaniels for one, as my breeder friends in > that breed have some issues with it.... and I've been ruminating for a while > about why hypothyroidism is such an epidemic now - not only in ourselves, > but in our dogs, too... which makes me think it must be something in our > environment, our way of life. > > I'm like you in that I hear bits and pieces of things that resonate with me > and stay with me... so this little tidbit about the relationship with > cruciate ligament problems is very intriguing and one I will be passing > around & discussing. > > > > > > > Re: Split your dose? > > > > and Chuck, > > The cruciate involvement information comes from a seminar that I > > attended with Dr. Dodds about 4 or 5 years ago. I don't think it was > > part of the hand-out, but more of a throw-away statement from Dr. > > Dodds, which resonated with me. As I am a breeder, I pay attention to > > things people say about dogs-- setters or otherwise. I have been > > hearing about a lot of cruciate problems in many breeds. Of course, > > everytime I hear this, I mention that they might consider checking > > thyroid. In some doggy circles I have been known as the " thyroid > > cop " , and I have a " bee in my bonnet " about thyroid. Funny thing is, > > I hadn't associated all I know about the huge problem I suspect (well > > I know it is) it is in dogs, with my own situation--until exactly one > > year ago, when someone sent me Maty Shomon's site with the article on > > Dr. Lowe. I trusted my Dr., who had told me four years ago that my > > TSH just over 3 meant I did not have it. I trusted him so much that I > > simply replied that I wouldn't trust that meagre bit of information > > to be of any use at all for my dogs, and left it at that. I was wrong > > to be so trusting. My Dr. is a good fellow, but he is not a god, and > > he was, and continues to be, very wrong about thyroid problems. Thank > > God for the internet!:-) > > Gail > > > > > >> > >> > Gail.... > >> > > >> > Do you have any references/links regarding a connection between > > cruciate > >> > ligament problems and hypothyroidism? ... > >> > >> I just talked to my vet, who confirmed that hypothyroid animals are > > at > >> risk for cruciate ligament damage. It goes along with the arthritis > > and > >> general joint lubrication problems. > >> > >> They only checked the T4 and FreeT4. Not the panel I wanted. He > > said the > >> antibody test (combined with TSH) costs $79, but that he would be > >> willing to try the therapeutic dose trial for a few weeks. That's > >> cheaper than the test. > >> > >> Chuck > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 ---Pamela, I can not tell you the specifics, I am not a doctor, but I was told , and explained, by my doctor, as well as read about it, that thyroid hormone accumulates, it is not a inmediate effect hormone. I remember when I started thyroid treatment, I felt nothing, for the first months, and it was months, probably due to the small dosage I took at the start, just 15mcg(right now I take 240, and reducing it by 15mcg every 3 wks to come down, see my chart, I posted a chart of my thyroid effects a few days ago, I am now at the top, borderline hyper)...and I remember, when I stepped it up, in november of last year(still low, very low), I felt the punch almost exactly 30 days later, at the end of Dec, I started loosing a lot of weight, and felt more tranquil, so, mental and phisical effects were delayed by about 30 days. In your case, I can not explain it, but it is known that thyroid can not act that fast, we need some expert advise here, perhaps a drastic change is another thing. I was told never to add or reduce more than 15 mcg at a time, and it has to be a gradual increase/decrease, 35mcg all together seems a little drastic Hope you are doing fine, Pamela. Masiste>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ****************************************************** In hypothyroidism , Pamela <southallp@y...> wrote: > > Hi Masiste, > > If whatever dose of Armour you take about 30 days ago > is what is running in the body today, how come I felt > a drastic reaction within days when my doc cut my > Armour dose from 1 grain to .5 grain? > > Much love, > Pamela > > > > -... remember, > > > thyroid accumulates, what ever dose you took about > > 30 days ago is > > > what is running you today. ... > > > > > > > Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: > http://tour.mail./mailtour.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 I am considering doing that since I'm on Armour and my belief is that it would normalize the intake of T3 preventing me from feeling sleepy in the early evening. Just speculation of course, I've got no data to support this. --- Every <denisee@...> wrote: > Does anyone here divide up their thyroid medication > into two doses per day, like morning and evening? > > The reason I wonder is because when they give > thyroid replacement to dogs, it's a twice-daily > dosage. (They use a synthetic version of thyroxine > for dogs). > > However, in my years in medicine I've never seen it > prescribed to people that way, and wondered if it > might be beneficial for some people (maybe all of > us?) to do it that way, it might provide more stable > blood levels? > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > __________________________________ Mobile Take with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile./learn/mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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