11/06/2018 / By Mary Miller
If your dog is drinking more water than usual, urinating more frequently, eating more food but still losing weight, your dog might have thyroid problems. Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can help treat your dog’s thyroid problems.
Every dog has two, small, butterfly-shaped lobes in their necks. These lobes are their thyroid glands that produce the dog’s hormones. The thyroid produces the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). A perfectly healthy dog has thyroid glands that produce just the right amount of T3 and T4 hormones to regulate the body’s metabolic rate. However, if those glands produce too much hormones or too little, your dog could suffer from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, respectively. These thyroid problems are not necessarily life-threatening but they can cause great discomfort to your dog and negatively impact its quality of life. They are common in dogs five years and older. Larger dog breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, and Greyhounds, have a genetic predisposition towards thyroid conditions, but it is possible for any dog to have thyroid problems. (Related: Can pets have thyroid disease? Dr. Jean Dodds provides answers.)
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, increased appetite and thirst, frequent urination, elevated heart rate, vomiting or nausea, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, restlessness, and an enlarged throat. Symptoms of the much more common hypothyroidism include weight gain, shedding, sensitivity to cold, chronic eye and ear infections, fatigue, weakness, and a decreased heart rate. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is best to seek treatment immediately as they may also be signs of other conditions.
There are many natural remedies that can be used to improve your dog’s thyroid function. Here are some possible treatments that may help:
Depending on your dog’s needs, these treatments may vary in levels of effectiveness. It is important to examine your dog’s overall health, but ultimately, you know what’s best for your dog.
If you want to learn more about how to keep your pets healthy, you can read more articles by going to PetHealthDaily.com.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, canines, dog health, dogs, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, natural medicine, natural remedies, pethealth, Pets, thyroid disease, thyroid problems