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Old December 27th, 2006, 03:53 AM
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OntarioGreys OntarioGreys is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woodstock, ON
Posts: 1,696
Has a thyroid panel been done?

Quote:
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs of the disease vary greatly because of the myriad of systems the thyroid hormone impacts. Most owners are alerted to a problem when changes in the dog's coat occur. This is frequently the first symptom of which they become aware. The classical signs include alopecia or hair loss on both sides of the trunk or specifically on the tail, i.e., the 'rat' tail. Hair regrowth is usually slow and may come in dry, dull or differently colored. The skin may also change color and become greasy, strong smelling and thickened. The dog may gain weight easily, becoming lethargic, mentally dull and exercise intolerant. Chronic ear infections have also been noted. Observed also are severe behavior changes and neurological symptoms including unprovoked aggression, head tilt, seizures, ataxia, circling and facial nerve paralysis. Additionally, reproductive functions such as prolonged anestrus and fertility rates may be affected. It is obvious from this list that this is a serious disease and one that needs to be caught early.
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