The Canine Thyroid Epidemic Answers You Need for Your Dog

Winner of the DWAA Maxwell Award for 2011, Best Care and Health Book and the Eukanuba Canine Health Award.

Problems with your dog? It may be his thyroid! If your dog is lethargic, losing his hair, gaining weight or suddenly becomes aggressive, perhaps the last thing you (or your vet!) would think about is his thyroid. Unfortunately, however, thyroid disorders can cause literally dozens of health and behavioral problems in dogs and frequently go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. And the real tragedy is that most thyroid problems are treatable with the right medical care and a well-informed owner can often minimize the chance of a thyroid disorder occurring in the first place.

Noted veterinarian Jean Dodds and co-author Diana Laverdure have done the dog owning public and their vets a great service by writing The Canine Thyroid Epidemic. The book is written in such a way to inform both the average dog owner and animal health care professionals about the ways in which thyroid disorders occur, can be prevented and treated.

You will learn about:
The role of the thyroid and why it is essential to a dog's health.
How to identify the clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders.
The lab tests needed to identify thyroid problems and how to administer the proper medicines.
How an increasingly toxic environment can impact your dog's health.

What experts are saying about The Canine Thyroid Epidemic
There's probably no one in the dog world who garners as much respect from all quarters as Dr. Jean Dodds. Her latest work alarms and alerts us to an epidemic of thyroid disease of staggering proportions. It alarms us as we witness the early age at which the disorder now commonly appears, and alerts us to how commonly we aggravate the problem through breeding, vaccination and feeding practices.
Steve Marsden, DVM, Canadian Vet. Med. Assoc. Small Animal Clinician of the Year, 2009

Dr. W. Jean Dodds has raised the awareness that canine hypothyroidism is not only about low thyroid hormone levels, but in fact, it's a continuum of disease that often begins with the immune destruction of the thyroid gland (autoimmune thyroiditis) and progresses over time to end-stage disease (hypothyroidism). Not only is this book a great eye opener for pet lovers but also should serve as a reference for veterinarians whether they are in veterinary school or have many years experience in private or university practice.
Rhett Nichols, DVM, ACVIM, endocrinologist

Dr. W. Jean Dodds received the D.V.M. degree with honors in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Toronto. She is the owner of Hemopet, the first nonprofit national blood bank program for animals. She and her husband live in Santa Monica, California. Diana R. Laverdure received a bachelor of arts in English magna cum laude from Tufts University. A lifelong dog lover, and journalist for over twenty years, she is a frequent contributing writer on dog health and dog care topics to a variety of national dog magazines. She and her dog Chase live in Boynton Beach, Florida.

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What reviewers are saying...

ANIMAL WELLNESS MAGAZINE
If your dog is low on energy, loosing hair, gaining weight, or behaving aggressively, it could be his thyroid. In The Canine Thyroid Epidemic, veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds and journalist Diana Laverdure take an in-depth look at thyroid disorders and how they prevented and treated. Learn about the role of the thyroid gland, why it's essential to your dog's health, and how to recognize the clinical signs of thyroid problems. There's also a discussion of the lab tests needed to properly diagnose thyroid disorders, the medications and supplements used for treatment, why a healthy and nutritious diet is so important, and how our toxic enviroment can impact your dog's health. A chapter of case studies is included, as well as advice and tips on educating yourself and finding a holistic veterinarian. Whether or not your dog has been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, this book will be an invaluable guide in helping you deal with the condition - or prevent it from happening in the first place .

DOGS IN CANADA
"The more that dog owners and veterinarians understand canine thyroid disorder, the better we can partner to diagnose and manage this confounding 'epidemic,'" state the authors in the introduction. To that ends Dodds and Laverdure explain the crucial role the thyroid plays in a dog's health, and identify potential problems. This accessible book is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand why thyroid disease develops in dogs; its clinical signs (which mimic other diseases and conditions); risk factors; and management of thyroid disorder. An appendix with comprehensive information about immune-mediated diseases will help owners spot the signs in their dogs. A reference section details relevant research studies.

THE APDT CHRONICLE OF THE DOG
Why should dog trainers read a book about canine thyroid disease? As we know, physical illnesses may affect dogs' behaviors. Thyroid disease in particular can produce behavior symptoms when no other physical symptoms manifest. Knowing this information could save your dog's life. As a long time volunteer at a Golden Retriever rescue organization, I've seen a large percentage of Goldens diagnosed with thyroid disease. Some of these dogs presented behavior problem such as housetraining issues and sudden aggression that has not been previously present. It is genetically pre-disposed in Goldens as well as Labradors, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels and quite a few other popular breeds. The Canine Thyroid Epidemic lists the top 25 breeds who have this genetic issue The Canine Thyroid Epidemic presents an excellent in-depth understanding of the disease: what causes it, the symptoms, how to diagnose it and how to treat it. This information can be technical, yet it is important to learn. The thyroid is a gland in the endocrine system that controls so many bodily functions, and its malfunction can manifest in just about any area of the dog's body an emotional state. Many common signs of thyroid disease are changes in weight (loss or gain), hair loss, coarse and dry coat, and lethargy. But did you know that other symptoms might include incontinence, stiffness, cardiac myopathy, infections, gastrointestinal issues, aggression and phobias? Sadly, according to the book 80% of canine hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) is a result of a genetically inherited autoimmune condition. This can be surely attributed to continuous inbreeding and line-breeding, says the book. An entire chapter is devoted to thyroid disease and aberrant behavior take note, trainers! Several case studies are examined with a reference summary at the end of the chapter. Many of us may consider thyroid disease as only applicable to adult dogs. This chapter points out that puppies who are showing early warning signs of inattentiveness, fearfulness, skin and coat disorders, and seasonal allergies may in fact have a thyroid problem. Additionally, adolescent dogs who have been well-mannered but suddenly begin to show nervousness, disorientation, fear around strangers and even hyperventilation may really have an underlying physical condition. This is why we know that our clients should always have their dogs see their veterinarians first to rule out a medical condition that may be causing the dogs' aberrant behaviors. Most of the remainder of the book discusses which dog are most at risk for canine thyroid disease, how to properly diagnose the condition, how to manage the disease once it is diagnosed, and more case studies. The last chapter is called Proactive Care for a Healthy Canine. As dedicated custodians of our dog friends, it is our responsibility to be informed. Many times, blood tests show that a dog is in the normal range however, thyroid disease is still present. We must be advocates for our dogs and find the healthcare professionals who will work cooperatively with us to provide the best care possible for our dogs. Just as knowledge of nutrition is valuable for trainers, so is the information in The Canine Thyroid Epidemic. Chris Shaughness, author of Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK!