Any Experience With Hypothyroidism And Flaky Skin?

[Tracey]

So just as a quick refresher, since May 26 Chase has been on soloxine for hypothyroidism. We did blood tests and my vet consulted with Dr. Couto who said Chase is only the 4th Greyhound he's seen in his entire career who is truly hypothyroid.

 

Since starting the meds, a lot of Chase's issues have begun to resolve. His megaesophagus is probably 80% improved or more. His crusty ears are about 80% better as well. His anemia is gone. His cholesterol is back down to normal. He's even starting to regain some muscle in his back legs.

 

My question now is about Chase's skin. Two summers ago he started to get flaky and none of the supplements, oils, etc that we tried helped a bit. In retrospect I now know it was because of his thyroid. So it's now just six weeks into treatment which from what I've read is about the time that his skin should start to improve.

 

Suddenly Chase has gone from flaky skin to "omg it's snowing in here!" Big, giant flakes and so, so, so much of it, everywhere, all the time. I'm brushing him and I have an oatmeal shampoo I'm going to use on him. But mainly I want your opinions.

 

My theory is this big, sudden shedding of skin means that underneath all this is healthy new skin waiting to be revealed. Like a snake, Chase is shedding his old skin.

 

What do you think? Does this seem plausible? Chase has another follow up with the vet next week. By then, if I'm right it will likely be obvious and if not, I can ask her about it. But in the meantime I'd love to know what you think of my theory.

[GreytXpctations]

Not related to thyroid, but we have seen the flakes get worse before getting better with a few fosters. For a week after making some changes to treat dry flaky skin and fur loss due to poor/malnutrition, they went from dandruff to snowflakes just before noticeable improvement started to occur.

 

"My theory is this big, sudden shedding of skin means that underneath all this is healthy new skin waiting to be revealed. Like a snake, Chase is shedding his old skin."

 

I think this sounds reasonable, and if correct it should start to clear up within a week or so. As long as the skin underneath is not irritated or inflamed.

[seeh2o]

It has been so long since I started treating mine for it I don't remember. Carl had eye issues related to being hypothyroid, they slowly resolved once I got him on Soloxine.

 

While greyhound blood values are very different than the mainstream dog population and I agree with him that they are almost their own species, I respectfully think Dr. Couto is wrong about how infrequent hypothyroidism is among them. I don't think it's epidemic either, the truth/frequency is somewhere in the middle.

Edited July 8, 2016 by seeh2o

[Tracey]

Not related to thyroid, but we have seen the flakes get worse before getting better with a few fosters. For a week after making some changes to treat dry flaky skin and fur loss due to poor/malnutrition, they went from dandruff to snowflakes just before noticeable improvement started to occur.

 

"My theory is this big, sudden shedding of skin means that underneath all this is healthy new skin waiting to be revealed. Like a snake, Chase is shedding his old skin."

 

I think this sounds reasonable, and if correct it should start to clear up within a week or so. As long as the skin underneath is not irritated or inflamed.

 

He started at the back of his neck and it's kind of working its way down his body. Excitingly (for me, anyway, because, well, his medical care has become all encompassing and I've become kind of a nerd about it), once I scrubbed off the old skin on the back of his neck, what's left now seems normal. I feel more natural oils and don't see any flakes there. It's just big flaky patches now popping up on the rest of him, but I guess once it all sloughs off he should look pretty good.

[GreytXpctations]

Good to hear! At least now you know that you are moving forward and not dealing with a new issue.