Ah yeah though the site that I saw clearly had a picture of a Basenji representing the breed! Your link, they look nothing like Bs
Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman
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When Dr. Dodman got the T4 level back he told me unfront that my own vet was probably going to dicount it as part of the problem and not want to put Sonny on the Soloxine and sure enought when my own Vet saw Sonny's levels she felt the Soloxine wasn't needed even though it was below even the below normal range. But at that moment I asked them to either work along with Dr. Dodman or I'd go else where. So they filled the Soloxine as Dr. Dodman prescribed and are willing to work with with his treatment plan. I will still be finding a new vet once I get all this under control anyway.
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One of my dogs is on a very small soloxine dose because we believed a behavioral issue was tied to it. Technically most of the values were all on the low end of normal. The drug is cheap and it is simple enough to try to see if it helps. I did change vets regarding the same issue. They would have filled the prescription if I asked but philosophically we were in very different places so it was a good time to change. As an FYI, it can take a while to optimize the dose in between thyroid tests. I think it took almost a year for my dog but I wasn't rigorous about keeping to a tight schedule about it. Good luck and I hope you see a difference. They say it is usually pretty much a quick change if the thyroid level is linked to the behavioral issue. And even if it isn't the root cause, having the thryoid levels in a more typical range can help make behavioral modifications more successful.
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Glad to hear dr. Dodman is working out and that sonny is on a better path. Thanks for the update and best wishes from Oakley and I!
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Sounds like you are on the path to healing. I'm not sure why many vets are not knowledgable about thyroid issues. So easy and cheap to fix. I tihnk all dogs around 4-6 years should be tested - as a baseline if nothing else. I think you must be an exceptional dogmom to go the extra mile for dear sonny.
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Posts like these make me so very happy to have my vets. Glad things are going better. Honestly, I have never heard of anyone who didn't like Dodman. Glad you got to see him.
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Some vets have a problem with doing a complete thyroid test as they want to do the test-t4 inhouse. When I lived in Houston I had a vet like this and this was one of the reasons I never took my dogs back. What was odd is that she was a graduate of Texas A&M vet school and it is an approved OFA lab for thyroid testing.
Jennifer
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Hi all just wanted to give a quick update. after a few months and adjustments to Sonny's soloxine we have gotten his thyroid level up to a good number and his grumpy behavior has improved dramaticlly! I couldn't be more pleased with our experience with Dr. Dodman and Tufts. It was well worth the large amount of money the last few months have cost me (and a few future vacations)
We also changed to a new vet that happened to study under Dr. Dodman at Tufts and she is wonderful.Sonny's my 1st basenji & he's been an experience every step of the way… PRA, seizures & thyriod....but we've handled each bump in the road and I wouldn't change a thing about him
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WOHOOO! Glad to hear the great news!
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Honestly, you've got to be one of the best dogmoms ever!
So do you feel that most of his temperament issues were directly related to thyroid?
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Thank you Kim! I've tried to do my best for him. but in all honesty he saved me… Sonny came to live with me a year after I got divorced and he forced me back into the world of the living as I say....having to take him out to the park to play or he'd eat my house forced me to interact with people again. Sonny taught me how to laugh and smile again... how can you not laugh when you hear company say from the living room " hey I just got up to answer my phone and the dog is drinking my wine!"
I do feel the issues we were dealing with most recenlty were direclty related to his thyroid. it was a long road to get to that realization because some behavior we attributed to his lose of vision.
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He's probably been trying to tell you, "mom, I don't care if I can't see!!!"
Lol… Glad it was his thyroid which would be changed and not his vision affecting his behaviors...it's going to take a lot more for Sonny than losing his sight to stop him! And on a personal note, I know what you mean about sonny being your "new start" dog...after my breakup Oakley really forced me back into living..and laughing again.
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Such a 'happy' story and results. You are very lucky to have had access to Dr Dodman personally and how well it has all worked out. Hugs to you both.
There are so many things that mean more than money!
