Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 8/7/2008

Question
My female Pomeranian, Pebbles, was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease on June 12th when she went in for a dental.  I asked the vet to run the thyroid test along with the pre-op blood work as Pebbles is overweight even though she doesn't eat very much, is exercise intolerant (she starts to breath very loudly and slows down to a halt), and sleeps a fair amount.  The vet called me to say she didn't want to do the dental as Pebbles' thyroid levels weren't registering.  We started her on medication and have been going for followup blood work every two weeks.  We have increased the medication every two weeks as she is still not staying in the therapeutic blood range.  I was told (by my vet) that the range should be from 39 to 79 - her last test was 37...but the vet told me that was acceptable and to put her on a diet (which I bought from them - she's not even eating the daily amount that I am supposed to feed her, but she is eating)  I give Pebbles her pill 6 hours before the test...and I have read that her levels should be in the upper third of the therapeutic blood levels when her blood is drawn. I'm wondering if I should go to another vet to get a second opinion.  Pebbles also has mild collapsing trachea and luxating patella's so her weight is important (she's 10.5 lbs) but I really think she is still overweight in part due to her low thyroid levels.  We do walk daily for aprox 40 minutes but I have to carry her for a portion of this.  What is  your opinion?

Answer
Joy -

Have your dog evaluated by an internal medicine specialist. Sometimes thyroid levels re difficult to regulate due to other underlying diseases; an internal medicine specialist can help to determine if the levels are within acceptable therapeutic range.


Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM