The thyroid is a gland found in your dog's neck. The metabolic rate is controlled by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the metabolism drops significantly due to the fact that the thyroid gland isn't producing enough hormone.

When it comes to hormone imbalances in dogs, hypothyroidism is a common culprit. Elderly dogs are commonly affected. Certain breeds are also at an increased risk of developing the condition. Some of these include the Great Dane, Boxer, Golden retriever, and Doberman pinscher.

Hypothyroidism in dogs usually develops because of an immune disorder. The immune system will treat the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign body and start to attack it. Hashimoto's Disease or autoimmune thyroiditis are two other names for this condition.

Canine hypothyroidism usually causes dogs to have problems with skin infections, oily hair, hair loss, and dry coats. It is also relatively common for dogs to experience lethargy and become obese. Some dogs suffer anemia and cardiovascular symptoms such as decreased heart rate and abnormal heart rhythms.

Your dog may even have chronic ear infections. Depression and other behavioral changes may also occur. Dogs may start behaving more aggressively, tilting their head, or even having seizures.

The vet will need to take a thorough medical history and physical exam in order to diagnose your dog with this condition. A blood test can help achieve an accurate diagnosis if hypothyroidism is suspected.

This blood test is useful for various reasons such as checking the level of thyroid hormone. Even though dogs may have the condition, they may show a normal level of this hormone on a test. Fortunately, there are numerous other tests that can help diagnose canine hypothyroidism accurately.

In order to treat this condition, your dog will need to take thyroxine twice a day on a daily basis. This is also a synthetic thyroid hormone. Frequent vet visits for checkups are also mandatory. It is sometimes necessary to adjust the dosage of medication. As long as your dog keeps taking the medication, he should have little problems in life.