Anna's armpits/thyroid

[barneysmommmy]

When we got Anna last year her skin was a mess. She had oily scaly skin and constantly scratched and itched. When she was switched to sd metabolic, her skin cleared up. However, her tummy is slowly turning a dark color, kind of purplish black. I noticed today that she has been scratching her armpit a lot. I got her down for an inspection and noticed she losing hair under her pit and it has dark crusty spots and is turning black. I am calling our vet first thing in the morning.


My big concern is that she has thyroid problems. Last year they kept her overnight to do blood work and shaved her neck so that she looked like frankendog. All of this to tell me that her thyroid is fine. I do not want to put her through unnecessary drama. However, I've read on the net that often thyroid problems cannot be detected with normal blood work.


Has anyone's pup had similar symptoms? Am I over reacting?

[Maximo]

Do you know which tests were done? Often vets and doctors will only do 1 or 2 of the thyroid tests instead of a full panel.

I would also consider consulting a dermatologist.

Best wishes for Anna.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Do you know which tests were done? Often vets and doctors will only do 1 or 2 of the thyroid tests instead of a full panel.

I would also consider consulting a dermatologist.

Best wishes for Anna.

Thanks for the wishes. I just am not sure if I am making a mountain out of a molehill or if I should really be concerned. They did all of the blood work in the office. That's all I know. I am looking online but it looks like I'll have to take her to Columbia, Missouri. This is 4 hours away....not a fun drive.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by barneysmommmy

Thanks for the wishes. I just am not sure if I am making a mountain out of a molehill or if I should really be concerned. They did all of the blood work in the office. That's all I know. I am looking online but it looks like I'll have to take her to Columbia, Missouri. This is 4 hours away....not a fun drive.

4 hours doesn't sound like fun. Does she have any other symptoms that make you think thyroid?

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

4 hours doesn't sound like fun. Does she have any other symptoms that make you think thyroid?

I really don't know if she has symptoms because we got her last year and she already had these behaviors. She is low energy and she has gained a lot of weight. Even on her diet, we cannot get the weight off of her. She went from 4 pounds last March to nearly 8 this past winter. She was also spayed during this time. So this could be part of the issue. We have her back down to 7 but cannot get her under this. She sleeps a lot but she's 7 years old so that can be expected. Maybe I should just go get her armpit checked out and go from there. I just can't stand the thought of blood work again. She spent her whole life in a cage and I hate for her to be kenneled overnight for blood work.

[Maximo]

Looking at her body, is she overweight? I think spaying and being in a home where she is being fed properly probably has to do with increased appetite and weight gain.

Thyroid tests do not require being held for any length of time. They are a one time blood draw, no stay required.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Looking at her body, is she overweight? I think spaying and being in a home where she is being fed properly probably has to do with increased appetite and weight gain.

Thyroid tests do not require being held for any length of time. They are a one time blood draw, no stay required.

Yes, she is very much over weight. They had to keep her last time because she had to be sedated for the blood draw. She's not super friendly with strangers and she bit the vet. I plan to take her in for him to look at her arm pit today.

[TxVicki]

Has she been tested for Cushings??

[Maximo]

Good luck at the vet today. Let us know what the doctor says about Anna's armpits.

Originally Posted by barneysmommmy

Yes, she is very much over weight. They had to keep her last time because she had to be sedated for the blood draw. She's not super friendly with strangers and she bit the vet. I plan to take her in for him to look at her arm pit today.

I understand now. Poor girl, sorry to hear she doesn't work well with strangers. Having to be sedated for blood draws is not ideal. I think it would be worth it to test how she reacts at another vet's office. There are some things you can do to train/desensitize at home too.

My Teddy doesn't like strangers touching him, but he does really well at the vet even with drawing blood. I think part of it is that I put him on the counter to groom and do essential care daily, so he associates counters and table tops with care. Plus our techs move so fast and don't make a fuss, so it is over before Teddy knows what is happening. Our vet just has to remember not to try to pet Teddy on top of his head.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Has she been tested for Cushings??

No she hasn't. He tested last year for thyroid because I asked for it. I didn't realize that Cushings was even a possibility. Husband is upset with me because it was such a traumatic event having her tested last year. He said it's just a rash and will be fine. This is his baby and he was a nightmare to live with the night she had to stay with the vet.

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Good luck at the vet today. Let us know what the doctor says about Anna's armpits.

I understand now. Poor girl, sorry to hear she doesn't work well with strangers. Having to be sedated for blood draws is not ideal. I think it would be worth it to test how she reacts at another vet's office. There are some things you can do to train/desensitize at home too.

My Teddy doesn't like strangers touching him, but he does really well at the vet even with drawing blood. I think part of it is that I put him on the counter to groom and do essential care daily, so he associates counters and table tops with care. Plus our techs move so fast and don't make a fuss, so it is over before Teddy knows what is happening. Our vet just has to remember not to try to pet Teddy on top of his head.

Anna is a nervous dog. She is not well socialized at all. But she has come a long way since that visit. I am hoping that if we have to do a blood draw she will not react as badly as she did last year.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by barneysmommmy

No she hasn't. He tested last year for thyroid because I asked for it. I didn't realize that Cushings was even a possibility. Husband is upset with me because it was such a traumatic event having her tested last year. He said it's just a rash and will be fine. This is his baby and he was a nightmare to live with the night she had to stay with the vet.

I agree with Vicki, testing for Cushings would be a good idea.

Even with sedation, she shouldn't have to stay overnight at the vet. They could do it in the morning and have her home before dinner. I also think there must be a way to do a blood draw without sedation.

[barneysmommmy]

I called the vet. They are going to see her tomorrow.

[Wylie's Mom]

I kind of am doubting she has thyroid problems since she tested fine for it just last year, but of course you could always retest just to be sure.

As for Cushings...it has very random and diffuse symptoms...I'll name a few: pot belly/overweight, back leg weakness increasing, lethargy, heat intolerance, recurrent skin/ear infections, hair loss, "old" looking eyes, excessive drinking/peeing, excessive appetite, panting, decreased activity / activity intolerance. Any of that ring a bell?

Her skin does look inflamed, but not necessarily infected (ie, pyoderma). Is she losing fur anywhere else?

[barneysmommmy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I kind of am doubting she has thyroid problems since she tested fine for it just last year, but of course you could always retest just to be sure.

As for Cushings...it has very random and diffuse symptoms...I'll name a few: pot belly/overweight, back leg weakness increasing, lethargy, heat intolerance, recurrent skin/ear infections, hair loss, "old" looking eyes, excessive drinking/peeing, excessive appetite, panting, decreased activity / activity intolerance. Any of that ring a bell?

Her skin does look inflamed, but not necessarily infected (ie, pyoderma). Is she losing fur anywhere else?

So far she is just losing hair on her belly and under her arm pits. She does have a big belly. She is always hungry. I'm not sure about the activity intolerance. When we walk at the park, she will walk for a few minutes and then sit and refuse to move. But she is a little spoiled. I can usually get about 5-10 good minutes of activity out of her a day, like running and playing. It takes us 25 minutes to walk 3/4 of a mile. So she is obviously not winning any activity metals. She does have dry weepy eyes. But she also has a drippy nose. I attribute these to allergies. I'm sure walking that close to the ground, she takes in every allergen around. I've never noticed excessive drinking or peeing. She can still jump on the furniture so I think her back legs are fine.