As we all know, we humans love our dogs with full affection and care and wonder at their unique abilities as well. Our dogs are capable of performing amazing feats from time to time and impress us as well.
But, as our dog starts growing old, it may lose interest in the activities that it used to enjoy in the past. However, if your active dog used to love exercise and now just refuses to get up for the same, it could very well be hypothyroidism and not something just age-related.
Just like humans, hypothyroidism also affects dogs wherein their thyroid gland produces less amounts of the hormone thyroid and this can lead to multifaceted medical and behavioral problems in our furry friends as well.
Therefore, getting our dog treated for this disorder as early as possible prevents its chances of spreading in our pet’s body and causing further damage. A veterinarian can help you better rule out hypothyroidism in your dog.
Meanwhile, veterinarian and Director of Virtual Medicine at Bond Vet Clinic, Dr Lisa Lippman has shared some of the signs of hypothyroidism that affect dogs.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Let’s look at these signs and symptoms one by one and try to understand exactly how this disease affects dogs.
Lack of activity and feelings of lethargy
The most common sign of hypothyroidism in dogs is the lack of activity displayed by them as well as feeling lazy to participate in any form of physical work. Moreover, your pet will show less interest in going for walks and appear to be more ‘down’ than usual.
Increase in weight
If you see an unexpected weight gain in your dog, even if it is eating the same amount of dog food or their normal diet, then this could be hypothyroidism. This should be checked into immediately by going to the vet.
Not able to stand cold temperatures
When your dog feels cold even in normal temperatures and you see it shivering, this could very well be hypothyroidism. Such dogs will find warm places to go and rest and temperatures that didn’t affect them previously will make them feel cold.
Poor skin and coat quality
Hypothyroidism in your dogs can also lead to skin and coat problems. As for coat problems, you may see shedding of hair in an abnormal way which is not generally associated with itching. Whereas skin problems in dogs can lead to skin darkening, frequent skin and ear infections, and slow hair regrowth after clipping. Dogs may also display a very poor coat quality when afflicted with this disease.
Digestive problems
Dogs suffering from hypothyroidism can also suffer from severe digestive problems that include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and regurgitation.
Affects the nervous system
Hypothyroidism also attacks the nervous system which means your dog will battle with different aspects of nervous system issues.
Cardiovascular issues
When afflicted with hypothyroidism, your dog may also suffer from heart problems such as abnormal heart rate and rhythm. Your vet can check for the same and may notice irregular rhythms or a slow heart rate.
Vision Defects
When your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism, it can have severe deposits of lipid near the cornea. This deposition can cause the vision to become cloudy and may form a whitish appearance in the eye.
Thus, these are some of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism that can be harmful to your dog.
Therefore, make sure that you take your dog to the vet for regular check-ups and detailed investigations.
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