ADHD Evaluation for Skye

[Ilovemypuppy]

I would be wild !!! The thyroid levels should have been checked in the beginning or certainly NOW..the meds may not even be needed or indicated.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

I would be wild !!! The thyroid levels should have been checked in the beginning or certainly NOW..the meds may not even be needed or indicated.

This is why I'm peeved (using forum-appropriate language). Like I said, I know it's unlikely but if the possibility exists I would never forgive myself if her problems escalated and could have been simply treated in the beginning. It's highly likely that increased carbs and discipline is all she needs. But I will certainly never know that if this possibility isn't eliminated.

[moondog]

Take a deep breath..........(think Zen)...........and then another.........(aromatherapy)............. ..and ask the vet to humor you and do the test. Since it will not impact any effect the medication has on her to do the test, and you are footing the bill, I can't see any reason he would object.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by moondog

I can't see any reason he would object.

She can get very pissy when you question anything she does. I don't like to deal with her but, in emergency situations, I may have to so I try to maintain a decent relationship. It's probably a good thing that I can't speak with the office until morning, when I'm calmer (albeit slightly) and explain it just that way.

[Tracyd]

Just curious of your outcome with the meds. Cannon is super-reactive, and has major cases of the zoomies. I did switch his food from that same protein combination that you were using, to a lower % of protein. It took about 2 weeks, but I did see a difference as it seemed to take his edge off. Let us know how it's going!

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

It's not like I just have $100 bucks floating around to blow on unnecessary testing. I KNOW that in all likelihood it is not her thyroid but how could I continue with this not knowing I ruled out the possibility?

Ok, ready? Here's the non-sugar-coated version.

A) Calm down! You do yourself and your dog no good to sit around and rage at something that you can not change right now.

B) You've said it yourself, it is HIGHLY unlikely. Therefore....you're hunting zebras in herds of horses and again, that usually does little good.

C) The clinical picture does NOT at all fit with a hyperthyroid dog. She is not showing elevated heart rates, new weight loss, nervousness, increased water intake/urination.

D) Medicine is not about finding "one" test result, it's about assessing an entire clinical picture. The old saying goes "treat the patient not the test."

I think you are on the right track with modifying the diet, and I think Becky gave you some EXCELLENT advice. Not all dogs are the same, and I agree with Elisabeth's guess that "that's just how she is."

Enjoy your girl's zest for life, find an outlet for her energy (herding, agility, flyball, hiking, swimming) and remember to smile!!

[Ilovemypuppy]

I have a feeling that if a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel (T3, T3, Free T3, FreeT4 and auto antibody testing for both T3 and T4) is done...you could very well see that the thyroid is at issue with Skye...I could be wrong, but some much of what you are describing points to an imbalance. I am sure that increased carbs will make her feel less energetic, but it may not address her psychologically.

A simple T4 test will not tell you what you need to know about the complete thyroid functioning picture.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

A simple T4 test will not tell you what you need to know about the complete thyroid functioning picture.

I spoke with the animal hospital this morning and the thyroid panel is on for Tuesday. While I was out grocery shopping, the vet in question called and left a message that Michigan State does a full thyroid panel that is sensitive to look at ANY abnormalities that might be present and she would leave that information in Skye's chart if I wanted to consider that.

Well, yea, that's what I told the office I wanted - a FULL thyroid panel. Although I do have to give her credit for calling me back personally and giving me the run down on the testing and how much it would be. Thanks you guys for caring about my girl! If it weren't for you - I would never have all this valuable information to consider.

[Ilovemypuppy]

I had a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel run on Bailey ...to have a baseline for future reference...it was done about a month ago and our vet did the blood draw and sent it to Dr. Dodds for testing and HER evaluation.

The reason I mentioned that a T4 alone would not tell you what you need to know is because...in Bailey's case, her T4 was 1.46 (reference range 1.0 - 4.0)...so I asked Dr. Dodds if that lowest reading was a concern and her replay was " A lowish T4 in the absence of a low free T4 means a non-thyroidal issue."

Bailey's free T4 reading was 1.16 (reference range 0.65 -3.00)

Without the free T4 readings, some vets would have considered the T4 alone to be too low.

When Dr. Dodds uses the reference range, as indicated here, she takes into consideration the BREED, whether spayed or intact and the age.

I asked Dr. Dodds if there was anything that I could do to try and raise Bailey's T4 readings and she said "You could add kelp supplement 3 times a week (not more if she is fed cereal kibble, as they supplement with a lot of iodine) or daily if she's fed raw or home cooking.)"

Dr. Dodds is so accessible and so helpful...I also had Bailey's rabies titers done and they showed :" a very good level of humoral immunity". Bailey has only ever been vaccinated once for Rabies...at nine months with the Imrab 3 year vaccine.

I will do annual titers testing with Dr. Dodds from here on in.

I got a little off topic, but hope some of this is helpful.