Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Thyroid issues.

Thyroid issues.

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • A

    I took my basenji to a vet opthamologist who did several tests. The HORNERS SYNDROME is caused by unknown reasons or thyroid shortage. I am choosing not to have more expensive tests and to put her on synthroid but try to treat her with diet and supplements. My sister recommended coconut oil and kelp. Sounds reasonable. Wondering if there are other things I can try. Iodine drops? She is not uncomfortable with the third eyelid issue and I just can't see going through all the tests they offered to do. The doctor was wonderful and very understanding of my position. Thanjs fir your help.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Abaihya said in Thyroid issues.:

    I took my basenji to a vet opthamologist who did several tests. The HORNERS SYNDROME is caused by unknown reasons or thyroid shortage. I am choosing not to have more expensive tests and to put her on synthroid but try to treat her with diet and supplements. My sister recommended coconut oil and kelp. Sounds reasonable. Wondering if there are other things I can try. Iodine drops? She is not uncomfortable with the third eyelid issue and I just can't see going through all the tests they offered to do. The doctor was wonderful and very understanding of my position. Thanjs fir your help.

    Have you had the thyroid tested? Before treating, I would suggest that a full thyroid panel is done.... I would not just "home treat" as you could make it worse... Thyroid panel is just a blood test.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • A

    Thanks for you input. She has several observable low thyroid symptoms, skin turning dark, heat seeking, shedding. The vet wanted $500 for the blood test and a chest x-ray, continously monitoring if they put her on synthroid. This just isn't a possibility. That's why I want to try a natural remedy first. I sure don't want to make anything worse for her. Just need to try something.

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Why would you need a chest x-ray? A blood test for thyroid, full panel, is not very expensive (I get mine done for well under $100!).

    Natural remedies for thyroid can be dangerous or simply totally ineffective. Thyroid medicine is CHEAP. Please, get a thyroid panel run and the right Rx.

    Debra

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Abaihya think you need a new Vet, no way should the Thyroid blood test be that price.... They draw the blood and it is sent out....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

Suggested Topics

  • R

    Eating Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    4k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    The FDA can only do what the laws allow and if the govt is controlled by lobbyist, well.... But this isn't the place for politics so I'll leave it at that. I am very sorry about your horse. :( With meat.. it's particularly red meat that research is linking to cancer... early research shows amount is a big factor (recommendations from 4 oz a day to max 18 oz a week), but who knows. Processed meat is the worse, and I saw some headline (didn't bother to read since I like my beef shortly after it stops mooing) that well done steaks more carcinogenic. For the world, reducing red meat is good for the environment and health. I was reading a study last week on red meat and joint inflammation. Studies the last 15 years actually only have general connection, but that most do is a pretty good indicator. I had a doctor tell me to stop all red meat and milk when I was a teen and experiencing joint pain. It helped, but back then, no internet and not much access to current research. Here we are 45+ years later, and still no strong proof and some show that reducing carbs with increased LEAN red meat actually decreased inflammation. However, we then get this Science Catch-up. Red Meat And Gut Inflammation: Harvard Study ... https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/science-catch-up/science-catch-up-28/ Jan 18, 2017 - Red meat and gut inflammation: Harvard study. According this new Harvard study involving 46,500 participants, eating high amounts of red meat daily might be a risk factor for gut inflammation and the development of diverticulitis. << So no one has absolute proof, but my money is on reducing red meat is more likely to be healthier than not. I just don't rule out all meat (ie fish and fowl) as getting enough protein is pretty hard and we don't have enough hard research for ME to go vegetarian. But I'm open to it and glad you are having success.
  • S

    Age issues or behavioral issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    @Patty: Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog. My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that. Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on. I have to agree with everything Patty wrote. Changing behavior ALWAYS needs a vet check. Increase aggresssion can be due to thyroid issues, pain, tick-born diseases, constant hunger (due to other things), etc. You didn't say in your post if you'd recently seen a vet and discussed her new issues. My oldest (16 in December) has failing kidneys (nonFanconi) and does need to pee more often. So, I put pee pads down in the house in his favorite pee spots. He's usually pretty good about that, but he does still pee in other spots if I'm not watching him carefully or if he gets a bit aggitated about the sitting arrangements. Would your pup stay in an exercise pen? That would give her a little more room than a crate.
  • krunzerK

    Thyroid Problems?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    krunzerK
    Test results got back today….yay no thyroid issues....just fat puppy I guess. I will have to watch exactly what she eats and cut her back from there if she does not start to lose some of the 'winter weight'.
  • curlytailsC

    Thyroids

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    17k Views
    curlytailsC
    Right, but "not uncommon" is kind of evasive wording, if that's the official stance on the problem. Kind of like "It has been known to occur…" But Shiba breeders, by and large, aren't registering thyroid information with OFA, unless there's some mistake with the chart of statistics sorted by breed. MSU does have numbers which suggest that it's not common with Shibas, which I think makes it a low priority for Shiba breeders. But just from what I'm gathering anecdotally, it's definitely something worth looking into, especially for shibas with allergies, which a LOT of them are plagued with. I'm not a member of any breed clubs, so I can't say with authority if the stance on thyroids is changing. I think it's generally of low concern, at the moment, compared to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, eyes -- which good breeders ARE testing for.
  • Anne-MarieA

    Liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    @tanza: These kinds of problems are not uncommon when your Basenjis start to reach their "golden" years. You might want to try him on Dr. Dodd's liver cleansing diet. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Liver%20cleansing%20diet.htm Many have used it and had great results regardless of what you find out the issue might be. Good Suggestion Pat as I had an older B with liver issues in 2008 and that diet brought it down into normal range.
  • ramseycleaR

    Incontinence Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    @ramseyclea: I didn't know incontinence was one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, I'm kind of glad to hear that. I know the weight gain and low energy level are definitely symptoms (I suffer from hypothyroidism myself). I will tell the vet to do the ful panel. Thanks for all the advice! This is such a great resource! There are many things that can be a result of low thyroid…. maybe not directly connected, but a off shoot of the condition. My OJ was loaded with hives... and regardless of what we gave him they would come back over and over... finally tested his thyroid and it was very, very low... put him on Soloxine and never another hive.... so while hives is not generally a symtom of low thyroid, the fact that it lowered immunities in other respects, hives popped up.... Not saying this is the cause... but again her age is pretty young for this problem, IMO. So best to rule out other things before moving on to hormones... and again I would still not rule out a UTI