Can hypothyroidism cause labored or raspy breathing in my dog?

Panting is not a common sign in dogs taking medication for hypothyroidism. However, I did a little digging through some veterinary databases and found some reports of dogs panting excessively with different brands/dyes in the levothyroxine medication. Panting can be a sign that Bobbie's levothyroxine dose is too high, or could be a sign of other conditions, such as heart disease, pain or anxiety. Regardless, I recommend taking her to the vet for further evaluation. They may want to recheck her thyroid blood tests to check her current levels and will want to examine her to check for other problems. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In my experience dogs with low thyroids do not have many vital changes. Maybe if they are lethargic due to hypothyroidism they have lower heart rates (60 bpm when at rest). But their respiratory rates and capillary refill times shouldn't change. Also dogs with low thyroids do not drink or urinate more, that should also not change. With Hyperthyroidism there are more vital changes but that is a feline disease. Cats drink and urinate more, have higher heart rates and respiratory rates. I haven't appreciated capillary refill changes in cats. Dogs with overactive thyroids are rare and usually are due to a thyroid tumor. I hope this helps!

I would recommend that Rex have a thorough checkup with a vet. Gaining weight and lethargy can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, which can be confirmed easily with a blood test. However, the shortness of breath has me a little concerned that there could be heart or lung disease also at play. Heart disease can cause fluid build-up in the lungs or abdomen, which can easily be confused for weight (fat) gain. After thorough examination, the vet may recommend bloodwork to check for internal medical illness, and x-rays or ultrasound to see what is going on inside the body. After your vet has a better idea of the cause of Rex's symptoms, then an appropriate treatment plan can be discussed.

I am mostly concerned about the weight loss, lethargy (depression) and the labored breathing. This is certainly not normal for such a young dog. From the symptoms you are describing, a metabolic disorder seems most likely. Options are hyperadrenosorticism (Cushings), hypothyroidism (although this is not consistent with the weight loss), certain sex hormone disorders, and certain immune mediated disorders. Since this has been going on for such a long time, I would advise a consultation with a specialist at this point. You can find a veterinary internist in your area on www.acvim.org.

Hi there! I would recommend having this checked out by your vet when you're able to. A wheezing sound in the throat, hoarseness, and/or a raspy quality to her panting or breathing are all concerning for something interfering with normal air flow in the back of her throat. This could be due to laryngeal paralysis, a growth or tumor, a foreign body, or something simple like a respiratory infection causing some swelling or inflammation in this area. Your vet can do a complete oral exam under sedation if needed to get a better look at her throat, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing to help check for abnormalities.

It is hard to say the exact cause of her breathing. I would be concerned about a possible upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, heart disease, heartworm disease or pain. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian for a good listen to her chest and possible chest x-rays.

Thank you for submitting Buddy. I hope that he is feeling better now. If not, I recommend that he sees a veterinarian right away. Cushing's can make dogs more prone to blood clots. A clot in the lungs can cause increased respiratory effort. This can usually be diagnosed with x-rays of his chest. Sometimes a specific urine test is used to look for certain factors. I hope this information helps!