Could my hypothyroid dog's high TT4 mean she's overmedicated?

A human doctor is not a veterinarian. Dogs happen to need a higher dose than people of that particular medication due to the way they metabolize it. Do not ask human doctors for veterinary advice. They are not familiar with how animals metabolize drugs. According to the blood results the thyroid is improving but it is actually still too low. On the thyroid medication, the goal is to have the dog's T4 in the high normal range. His is still low.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would have his thyroid rechecked soon. Schedule an appointment to have his T4 rechecked 4-6 hours after the pill is given. The dose may be too high causing hyperthyroid signs. Signs of too much thyroid hormone is increased thirst, urination, hunger, increased activity, weight loss. I wish you both the best!

This usually happens when owners feed their dogs raw chicken and turkey necks. That way dogs ingest lots of thyroid glands and get hyperthyroid. Do not feed raw or cooked chicken or turkey necks to your dog 0r other animal neck meat (trachea/esophagus from the butcher). This should pass if you stop feeding those meats. If you are not feeding this type of food, then your dog may be hyperthyroid ill, and you will need to discuss the treatment with your vet. This could be medication to slow down the thyroid hormone production, surgery to remove the thyroid gland or irradiation of the gland.

We are not in a position to prescribe medication for your pet. The results you show here are not showing enough proof for the need for thyroid medications unless she is showing very clear symptoms in which case a free t4 ft4 test should be completed. I recommend repeating in 4-6weeks to track changes. I would be more concerned about her elevated bun and creatinine which may indicate kidney disease and should be investigated with urine tests by your vet to determine the concentrating ability of the kidneys

In the majority of cases hyperthyroidism is due to a benign tumour (adenoma )within the thyroid gland. As time goes by, the lump continues to grow with worsening of the symptoms that will require more treatment. It is difficult to be stable on the medications, they wil need adjusting and repeat blood test. There are other more permanent treatment options such as radioactive treatment. I am quite positive about integrating conventional therapies with holistic ones i general, in this case though I don’t see how it would help .

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!

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.