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THE MOUNTAIN “DOCTAIRE” IS IN…
Thyroid Disease in Airedales

By Sally Schnellmann

Seventeen years ago I purchased Airedale puppy Maggie from Nancy Anderson, of Warwick Kennels. Maggie was a beautiful and well-bred pup from a well-respected Airedale breeder. With this puppy I began an exciting journey that led me to forming the Sunshine Airedalers of Florida club, to breeding and raising a couple litters of Airedale puppies, and into the world of Airedale rescue where I have actively operated since 1991.

If only I had known then what I’ve learned since about thyroid disease, I could have given my sweet Maggie a much better life. Unfortunately, at that time, the symptoms of that disease were not well known to me, to my vets, or by the Airedale breeders with whom I had contact. As I look back now, I realize that Maggie had several of the very classic symptoms during her lifetime that, presented to me today, I would immediately recognize. We’ve learned a lot about this disease since then. We’ve learned that hypothyroidism is prevalent in many breeds. I’d like to share with other owners what I’ve learned so other Airedales with similar symptoms won’t go undiagnosed.

Located in the neck and composed of two lobes, one on each side of the trachea, is one of the most important glands in the body – the thyroid gland. This gland is controlled by the pituitary gland (the body’s master gland, located at the base of the brain), and is responsible for controlling the body’s rate of metabolism. As with humans, our dogs can develop problems with their thyroid gland, and their problem usually is hypothyroidism, and with that disease, the metabolism slows down. Signs that your dog may be hypothyroid include:

• Weight gain without an increase in appetite, with difficulty in losing excess weight
• Lethargy and lack of desire to exercise
• Cold intolerance, heat-seeking behavior
• Dry hair coat, with or without excessive shedding
• Very thin areas of hair coat, can be to near-baldness
• Increased skin pigmentation
• Failure to re-grow hair after clipping or stripping
• Increased susceptibility to skin and ear infections
• Infertility problems

Fortunately, most vets today are more knowledgeable about the above symptoms of hypothyroidism, but there are other important symptoms you should know about:

• Joint and muscle pain – creating stiffness and clumsiness, which can be confused with arthritis. In the absence of X-rays that confirm arthritis, be sure to test for hypothyroidism. Of course, realize a dog may have both conditions, each needing attention.
• Seizures – I had another Airedale that developed seizures and discovered she was hypothyroid, which was handled with thyroid medication.
• Erratic and unpredictable behavior. Think: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde behavior.
• Aggressive behavior from a previously even-tempered dog. This aggression may be directed at all, at only one family member, or at one dog. No one feels safe around a snapping, biting and snarling dog. Before you think the dog has gone mad, get thyroid testing done! Proper medication could very likely return your dog to that sweet pet you remember. If dealing with a rescue dog that appears aggressive, thyroid testing is required.

Cheryl Silver, a very knowledgeable Airedaler from Texas, who has had extensive experience on hypothyroidism in dogs, tells us:

Because the metabolism is affected, the body’s ability to heal may be compromised, so it is often the case that we see dogs who have recurrent skin infections, e.g. staph and/or fungal infections, that people treat, then see return time after time. Once the dog is on thyroid supplementation, this cycle is broken.

As to testing, do not waste your time and money on the T4 test that vets do in their office. The only test of true diagnostic value is the full thyroid panel done at large labs. It will probably run around $100. I always get a copy of the results and send them to Dr. Jean Dodds by fax for her guidance on how to proceed. This is her field of research and she does not charge for a consult. If you do a search on Google for - Jean Dodds hypothyroidism - you will see some of her work.

Dr. Dodds requests that families not use generic drugs for hypothyroidism. Basically, she recommends Soloxine or Thyro-tabs. Both of these drugs are very inexpensive, especially if purchased online.

There is a lot of variation in how quickly dogs respond to the supplementation. Once you start the medication, be patient if you don’t see immediate improvement.

High cholesterol in your dog’s blood work may also indicate hypothyroidism. About 5 percent of hypothyroid cases are due to uncommon diseases, such as cancer. Ninety-five percent are thought to be immune-related (the body sees the thyroid as abnormal or foreign, and attacks it) or idiopathic (arising from an unknown cause or origin).
Though not curable, hypothyroidism can be successfully treated long term with a simple daily regimen of an oral thyroid-replacement hormone. Checking your dog’s thyroid level once a year will also help make sure your dog is getting the proper dosage.

Note: Dr. Jean Dodds’ fax numbers:
           Monday/Tuesday/Friday (310) 828-8251
           Wednesday/Thursday (714) 891-2123

For further information: If you want to ask specific questions of Cheryl Silver regarding questions on this subject, she will accept your telephone inquiries at (512) 454-7219.

Page last updated: August 6, 2010