BallyRock reg. Bullmastiffs & German Shepherds :: Breeders of conformation standard as per the C.K.C., A.K.C., and F.C.I. bullmastiffs, german shepherd dogs, in Eden Mills, Ontario. If you are looking for a German Shepherd Dog (GSD) puppy, or Bullmastiff puppy you have come to the right place.

Bullyhill's Bounty Hunter Bow :: Bow is actively competing in conformation shows and doing quite well. To view Bow's picture in a higher resolution simply click his photo again! You must have pop ups enabled to do so!BallyRock's Aisling "Eden" :: Eden will be competing in the conformation show rings this fall, so look out world here she comes! To see a larger picture of her simply click her picture again! You must have pop ups enabled to view her picture!


 
 
  Bullmastiff Hypothyroid
 
Hypothyroidism is a common problem in dogs. The thyroid gland has a number of different functions, but it is most well known for its role in regulating metabolism. Hypothyroidism is the condition that occurs when not enough thyroid hormone is produced. Hypothyroidism causes a wide variety of symptoms, but is often suspected in dogs that have trouble with weight gain or obesity and suffer from hair loss and skin problems. Hypothyroidism is easy to diagnose with a blood test that checks the level of various thyroid hormones including T3 and T4. Most hypothyroid dogs respond readily to treatment with synthetic thyroid medication such as Soloxine. Many dogs suffer from a low thyroid hormone level for years without treatment. If your dog has chronic recurrent skin problems, she may be suffering from hypothyroidism.

What causes hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism results from the impaired production and secretion of thyroid hormone. The production of thyroid hormone is influenced by the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the thyroid gland. Although dysfunction anywhere in the complicated hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid pathway can result in hypothyroidism, more than 95% of all cases occur as a result of destruction of the thyroid gland. About half of the causes of thyroid gland destruction are suspected to be caused by the dog's own immune system killing the cells of the thyroid gland. The other half is caused by atrophy of the thyroid tissue and resultant infiltration of the tissue by fat. The cause for this form of the disease is unknown.

What are the symptoms and what should I look for?

Thyroid hormone is needed for normal cellular metabolic function. A deficiency of thyroid hormone affects the metabolic function of all organ systems. As a result, the symptoms are usually variable and non-specific. There is not a specific symptom that is diagnostic for hypothyroidism. There are, however, several symptoms that when combined together make the veterinarian more suspicious of the likelihood of the animal having the disease. A study on hypothyroid dogs revealed the following information on the variety and frequency of symptoms seen with the disease:

 

Clinical Symptoms Percentage of Dogs Showing Symptoms
Lethargy/mental dullness 70
Hair loss 65
Weight gain/obesity 60
Dry hair coat/excessive shedding 60
Hyperpigmentation of the skin 25
Cold intolerance 15
Slow heart rate 10
High blood cholesterol 80
Anemia 50

How is hypothyroidism treated?

 

A hypothyroid dog will need to be on thyroxine for the rest of his life.
One of the nicest things about this disease is that it is easily treated. Treatment consists of putting the dog on a daily dose of synthetic thyroid hormone called thyroxine (levothyroxine). There are numerous brand names of this drug. The dose and frequency of administration of this drug varies depending on the severity of the disease and the individual response of the animal to the drug. A dog is usually placed on a standard dose for his weight and then blood samples are drawn periodically to check his response and then the dose is adjusted accordingly. Once therapy is started, the dog will need to be on treatment for the rest of his life. Usually after the treatment is started, the majority of the symptoms resolve.

 
 





 
 

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 Please review our copyright, and terms of use, regarding our web site and the contents within.  All advise given herein is for informational purposes only, and does not and should not be implied as medical procedures you can use on your own animals.  Please  contact your local veterinarian or contact the Acton Veterinary Clinic in Acton, Ontario.  Remember to visit you vet regularly to ensure you pet lives a healthy life!