My German Shepherd's thyroid test was borderline low. What's it mean?

A low thyroid can be due to hypothyroidism or euthyroid sick syndrome. Euthyroid sick syndrome is where the thyroid is artificially low due to something else going on in the pet like skin issues. The thyroid level Depends on the lab they use. Usually 0.9is the low end of normal (0.7) still normal. Your vet could run a free t4 or tsh for more information and confirmation of hypothyroidism

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Spud. Addison's disease is not typically associated with hypothyroidism. However, when a dog develops one autoimmune disease, they can be more prone to developing another. Hypothyroidism cannot be diagnosed off of one low thyroid value though as this is not accurate. The thyroid levels can be artificially suppressed by stress or concurrent disease. Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 by dialysis need to be evaluated in conjunction with thyroid hormone levels to make a diagnosis. I hope this information helps!

Interpretation of thyroid test results should always be made with the whole picture in mind - this means taking into account whether Ollie has any symptoms of hypothyroidism, and also keeping in mind his other health issues which can sometimes affect thyroid results. Cushing's disease, along with other chronic health issues, can often cause artificially low results on a TT4 screening test, which is the thyroid test that most veterinarians do in-clinic. So for me personally, in this situation, I would make the decision about whether to recommend medication based on whether Ollie is showing any signs of a thyroid problem. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include decreased appetite, weight gain, skin issues or poor haircoat, and decreased energy levels. If he's not showing any of these signs, it would be reasonable to decide not to start any treatment at this time. If you want to get a better idea of whether Ollie is truly hypothyroid, your vet can send a blood sample to a reference lab for a full thyroid panel - this can often help sort out whether there is an actual problem or not, in cases where it isn't clear.

This will depend on the lab that the thyroid level is run through. It can differ sligthly from lab to lab and units can vary in different countries. If the thyroid level was checked, there is usually a reference range near the result. For example: If Filfil's thyroid level was 2.2, the reference range would usually be in parentheses, (3.4-4.6), and he may be diagnosed as hypothyroid. In this case, I may submit additional bloodwork to confirm the hypothyroidism, such as FreeT4, TSH, etc.

A low thyroid is definitely a possibility that is contributing. Allergies from something in the environment, fleas or food can also play a role. The dark pigmentation with the creases on the legs can also be a secondary yeast or bacterial infection that is making this worse. he needs to see a vet to have the thyroid checked and address the skin infection. From there a medicated shampoo in a weekly bath is helpful. They can see what might be the underlying cause and get you appropriate medicine to try to stay ahead of it in the future.

Yes, a single thyroid test can be very difficult to interpret and T4 levels are generally reduced if unwell from any cause. A repeat sample in one month would be recommended to investigate and comparison with TSH level is important at the same time

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you want to rule out hypothyroidism 100% you should have a profile done that includes fT4, TSH, T3, fT3. I like the profile to Michigan State. With that being said, hypothyroidism at 21 months old is exceedingly rare. It occurs in larger breed dogs more commonly. These dogs have stunted growth, have retention of "puppy coat," orthopedic abnormalities due to delayed growth plate closure and many other obvious abnormalities. Dynasty looks very normal. I hope this helps!