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(Thyroid) Free T4 "range Is Between 8-40" ...what?


Guest BrindleBoy

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Guest BrindleBoy

OK, so MSU is the gold standard. What do I do- tell my vet I want the "full thyroid panel FROM MSU"? How do I get a full panel so I can understand the numbers, and have something to compare it to online?

 

 

 

 

Clinical Signs Of Hypothyroidism
  • Lethargic or mental dullness SOME, BUT THIS IS NORMAL FOR HIM DURING HEAT OF SUMMER
  • Significant hair loss NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Difficulty keeping proper weight (weight gain) NO, he was a pound low a couple days ago at the vet
  • Difficulty keeping proper balance NO
  • Overall feeling of low self-esteem HOW DO I KNOW?
  • Poor interaction with strangers NO
  • Shyness NO
  • Fear of thunderstorms NEVER
  • Behavior changes including aggression NO
  • Dry scaly skin and dull coat MAYBE A TAD, BUT IT HAS SINCE GOTTEN BETTER
Edited by BrindleBoy
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Can you just ask your vet's office to email you the results? I can just cal the front desk and they will email them to me. The actual results will have the ranges. But bottom line, as Turbotaina pointed out, TSH isn't high. Doesn't sound to me like your dog is hypothyroid. But I'd like to see everything. Hopefully tbhounds will chime in too as she's an actual professional. :)

Edited by NeylasMom

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Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart

"The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong."

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Guest BrindleBoy

whew.... "I don't know if we have that capability" [to email the test results]... "we normally fax" [WHO faxes anymore?!?!]... "I'll ask our head technician in the morning and get back to you"...

 

Yeah, recent events have me thinking I really need to find another vet....

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My vet will email me any record I want include digital xrays.

 

Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Rita the podenco maneta, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto
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Interpreting the results you posted it does not appear that your dog is hypoT. The TSH should be elevated. For example--one of my girls became hypoT after a thyroidectomy --her TSH was just under 5.0 (Idexx)! Which lab does your vet use? Idexx-Antech? Personally I wouldn't pursue further bloodwork-you have the core results. Curious-how was your hounds cholesterol?

Edited to add Idexx reference ranges..

T4 = 1.0-4.0

cTSH = 0.05-0.42

Edited by tbhounds
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Guest BrindleBoy

Interpreting the results you posted it does not appear that your dog is hypoT. The TSH should be elevated. For example--one of my girls became hypoT after a thyroidectomy --her TSH was just under 5.0 (Idexx)! Which lab does your vet use? Idexx-Antech? Personally I wouldn't pursue further bloodwork-you have the core results. Curious-how was your hounds cholesterol?

Edited to add Idexx reference ranges..

T4 = 1.0-4.0

cTSH = 0.05-0.42

IDK what lab they use, and IDK what his recent (may) Cholesterol was, but I assume in the normal range, since they didn't say anything about the results of his annual bloodwork- except for the "less than .5" T4.

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I don't have the references ranges, other than he told me the range for FreeT4 was 8-something...40?, and the TSH should be no lower than 0.6

 

That simply isn't true. As several others have stated, if a dog is hypothyroid, the TSH should be *high*. TSH is "thyroid stimulating hormone". When the feedback system in the brain detects that blood levels of thyroid hormone are too low, the pituitary gland produces TSH which tells the thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormone. So when thyroid levels are too low, the TSH will usually be high.

 

If you want a definitive diagnosis, I'd recommend submitting blood to Michigan State for a full thyroid panel with endocrinologist's interpretation. But in most cases, simply doing the T4, FT4, and TSH through a regular lab, like you've done, is adequate. With a low TSH, hypothyroidism is unlikely, especially if he doesn't really have many of the typical clinical signs.

 

Btw, I work at an old clinic where we have a fax machine but no clinic email. For clients who want bloodwork or forms emailed to them, I use my personal email address.

Jennifer &

Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On),

Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice

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Guest BrindleBoy

OK, as I suspected, they did NOT run the full panel, which I DID request. Anyway:

 

Total T4 <0.5 0.8-3.5

 

Free T4 8 8-40

 

TSH 0.06 0.00-0.60

 

"While many dogs with primary hypothyroidism have elevated TSH concentrations, up to 1/3rd of affected dogs have normal TSH concentrations. If hypothyroidism is still suspected, consider performing FT4(ED)."

 

 

That's all the info I got. Plus the (lack of) symptoms that I posted above.


 

But in most cases, simply doing the T4, FT4, and TSH through a regular lab, like you've done, is adequate. With a low TSH, hypothyroidism is unlikely, especially if he doesn't really have many of the typical clinical signs.

 

 

 

Thank you for that!

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