Guest GriffinsMom Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Griffin has had blood work in preparation for a dental but there are concerns about his blood work regarding his thyroid function. T4 is below 6. The normal range is 12 - 51 TSH is .25. The normal range is 0 - .6 ALT is 63 fT4 - not included with the predental blood work auto antibodies against T4 & T3 - not included with the predental blood work My vet would like to send another blood test to Dr. Jean Dodds in California for further testing at a cost of about $150.00. I would appreciate your opinions on Griffin's test levels as to whether I should go forward with the additional test. Update: I will have my vet e-mail me a copy of Griffin's test results and forward them to Dr. Dodds. Thank you all for your responses and all the information. I knew I could count on the members of Greytalk for help. Thank you, Sharon Edited May 14, 2009 by GriffinsMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShantisMom Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Can your vet fax her the results they have to look at? We did this with Shanti on her VF stuff. They helped get my medication very cheap. Quote The Girls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 T4 is not diagnostic in sighthounds. If TSH is normal, which it is, I wouldn't bother testing further unless he has significant thyroid-specific symptoms. Here is a whole bunch of info about thyroid and thryoid testing in dogs: http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Sections/E...roid_Canine.php Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HersheysMom Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I agree with Batmom. If the TSH is elevated, it is telling the dog's body to make more T4 because there isn't enough. If the TSH is elevated, it's very likely the dog is hypothyroid. Griffin's TSH is not elevated or even borderline high. I'd get a second opinion on this from someone who is experienced with reading these panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Also, not to undermine your vet at all, but you could email Jean with the info you posted here and ask her her opinion, believe me, she will not mind at all!! And she'll respond pretty quickly, she always does If you would like to email her, her email is hemopet@hotmail.com Also, I agree with Batmom and Hersheysmom Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) The following quote on TSH and thyroid testing comes from the Michigan State website, and their thyroid testing is the gold standard for greyhounds. Short course: TSH is not an infallible indicator of thyroid function. http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Sections/E...oid_Canine.php It is not clear why as many as 15% of hypothyroid dogs can have a normal TSH concentration, but suggested explanations include: rare cases of secondary hypothyroidism (where the pituitary gland is unable to secrete adequate TSH), the presence of TSH-suppressing concurrent significant non-thyroidal illness, and structural differences in the TSH molecule that interfere with its detection. If the fT4 comes back low along with the T4 being low, I'd say go ahead and treat him. If Jean Dodds will do a consult based on the tests you already have, and I gather she will, that's a good idea if your vet is nervous. Mary hypothyroid and mom to two hypothyroid greyhounds Edited May 14, 2009 by greyhead Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 TSH isn't infallible, but if the dog doesn't have symptoms, there's no reason not to believe it. T4 isn't a good measure of thyroid function even in non-greyhounds, and fT4 can be off the bottom of the chart in a greyhound yet still be normal. You really want some symptoms to be spending the money on the test. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) What is the reference range from the lab you used for the ALT?? High liver values can be a sign of hypothyroidism. Oh, wanted to add so is amenia--how was the PCV% Edited May 13, 2009 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandimom Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I agree with cbudshome about emailing Dr. Dodds. I have emailed her several times and she will get back to you promptly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I agree with cbudshome about emailing Dr. Dodds. I have emailed her several times and she will get back to you promptly. me, three! She will get back to you quickly and she will give you her thoughts at no cost. She's the bomb! Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 fT4 - not yet known auto antibodies against T4 & T3 - not yet known Sharon, have these tests already been run, and you're just awaiting the values to be reported? That's what I assumed, but it was an assumption. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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