Why are my dog's thyroid levels high? Is raw meat the cause?

Unfortunately, feeding chicken necks, whether raw or cooked is dangerous to your dog as the necks contain thyroid glands, the ingestion of which will cause hyperthyroidism in dogs. So this could be the reason why she does not want to eat. I suggest you feed other meat than necks, and if she still does not eat, offer her boiled white rice and cooked white boneless chicken meat, ie a bland diet for a day or two. If she is not eating by Monday morning you will need to take her to your veterinarian for an exam. Please mention the feeding of raw chicken necks to her, as it could be the reason for hyperthyroidism (can be ruled out with a blood test), or a gastrointestinal bacterial infection.

As per Dr. Elbeze, hyperthyroidism is quite rare in dogs. The main cause of this in dogs is thyroid carcinoma or there is a lab error. I would make sure to have the thyroid level tested again and confirmed and have a free t4 rather than a total t4 tested. If Soska has hyperthyroidism, I would recommend speaking with a veterinary oncologist about further testing and treatment.

A dog with hypothyroidism cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. In order to correct this your dog needs a very exact amount of thyroid hormone, as underdosing will not correct it and overdosing will cause hyperactivity, heart problems, and other physical damage. So the only way to ensure a proper dosage is to give medication (Levothyroxine) that comes in exact concentrations. This is not possible with natural remedies, or feeding necks with intact thyroid glands. So, in the interest of your dog, I suggest you trust your veterinarian to prescribe the proper dosage of levothyroxine, which actually is a synthetic thyroxine Though this is man-made, synthetic thyroxine is exactly the same as the thyroxine that is produced and released by the thyroid gland.

Hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs and is typically caused by an aggressive thyroid tumor. It could be due to too high a dose of thyroid medication also. It is possible Bailey's dose needs further adjusting. Discuss this with your veterinarian.

Since it has been several hours, inducing vomiting will not help. Dogs take higher doses of thyroid medications than humans do, so it is likely that Roxy will be fine. He may develop some stomach upset. Monitor for rapid heart rate, panting and restlessness or hyperactivity. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline ( https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ ). They are staffed by toxicologists who have more detailed information. There is a fee for the call. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/thyroid-medications/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dogs do not typically have enlarged thyroids and hypothyroidism usually causes the thyroid to shrink. There are other organs in that area-lymph nodes and salivary glands- that could be the cause of the enlargement. Fat is also a possibility. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions at this point and recommend waiting until her exam and blood work to be sure. They may also want to stick a needle in the area of swelling to determine what it is. Good luck and kisses to Chloe!

I’m sorry to hear that Chloe isn’t feeling herself. Is it possible that she received a Double dose of her thyroid medication this morning? Over medication with thyroid medication can cause these symptoms. Otherwise those can all be symptoms of discomfort. If her behavior continues then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Sometimes abdominal pain or back pain can cause those symptoms and can be hard to identify without an examination. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.