Eddie went to the vet for his routine blood test last week. Although he has remained on the same dose of thyroxine ever since being diagnosed three years ago, this time his T4 was at the top end of the range. Vicky vet suggests leaving his thyroxine dose unchanged for now, but reviewing it if it is still high at his next three monthly test. For most of his life Eddie's weight has fluctuated between 17 and 18 kilos, so I was shocked when the nurse told me that he was now 19.02k! I do remember Myra commenting that he looked chubby when I posted his 10th birthday picture, but I parried the comment by saying that he had got a waist, but had always had a broad ribcage. With a high T4 reading I would have thought that he would have lost weight rather than gaining it, so I'm feeling a bit confused. It is time for some honest opinions. Am I just fooling myself - or have I let Eddie get FAT? If not, how has he gained 1.5k in 18 months?
Does your vet do the full thyroid test? I know it is a totally different condition, but Ram only did the basic thyroid tests when Pereg had her three-monthly blood tests [while I sat there waiting for the results] and only drew more blood if something was not right. That went to the outside specialist laboratory who had to check her Pb level. Has Eddie gotten fat? If you are still feeding him the same amount, maybe he is like me. I do not consume any more calories but as I have grown older I have definitely gained more fat. And weight.
No this was the basic in-house test. T3 T4 and something else that I can't remember. If it is high next time we will go for the full external lab one. Thinking about it, the period of weight gain roughly coincides with my having retired him from obedience - less active training, - but also fewer treats too. I'm feeding Senior Grain Free kibble, (+ enhancements), but I do find it difficult to find out how many calories these products contain. I think I might switch them back to the weight control version as post-spay Merry's waistline is an ongoing problem too. Poor dogs, there is so little in their dishes at mealtimes. I'm afraid Beagles are like Welsh ponies, and would gain weight in a car park.
1.5k over 18 months on an older dog isn’t that surprising. It’s sometimes hard to tell.. with us we can weigh ourselves or our pants or other clothing might feel tight. I let Katie Mae gain almost 7 lbs in the month since she was spayed (63lbs to 70lbs). She was inactive for two weeks while recovering and during that time I switched foods. This new food is obviously denser. The old food sometimes they wouldn’t eat it all, the new food gets hovered right up.. Feeding them less now.
I just wondered Carole, especially as Eddie has regular [three-monthly?] blood tests and basic in-house tests using the type of test machines that vets have, only show basic thyroid results, T3, T4 and TSH. I think that the full thyroid panel is seven tests which is why it had to be done at an outside specialist laboratory. But I was more concerned with Pereg's Pb result and that had to be done by the outside laboratory, so I am not sure how often she had the full thyroid panel done. Probably every six months whereas the Pb level had to be checked every three months. As you know, I can not comment on kibble so have no idea what your Beagles eat - I just want to keep weight off Tikva so I go by the amount in her evening "wet" meal bowl. And just roughly judge her morning chikki flapper or gobble neck chunk. Being small, the 200gm she last gained is noticeable, but at least it is easy to adjust her food if necessary. Sometimes you just do not know what is right or wrong for them. I think life was so much easier years ago - and I have missed your birthday - sorry
It is true that he isn't as active as he used to be. Not his choice - we is no longer training or doing trials, and I'm afraid Chas and I are starting to slow down too. I think swapping to a Light variety has got be the next step, - annoyingly I have only just opened another sack of food. We only do a 2 mile walk, and I must admit that we walk slower than we used to as well. I might be tempted to use a dog walker, but Ed can be reactive, and if Merry got loose ...... Ed nags us to play in the evening - the trouble is, he likes to be chased, and Merry won't join in with that game. I'm not too worried about his thyroid test - I think this will turn out to be a spike. His in house test should be 3 monthly, and the external should probably be annually, (or if there is a problem), but I must admit to letting them slide a little, and I had actually missed one test altogether this time. Will just have to see what his January result is.
I could check how often Pereg had a full thyroid panel done as I have a hard copy of everything [why?] and they were always normal, but I still had one done - maybe every six months? And of course she had to have her Pb level checked every three months. And now I have a mini monster who has to be weighed for a Parkworm shot every three months but at least that is just for weight so Ram knows how much to draw from the vial, and no blood drawn. I should really take her to the surgery for an initial blood test, just for a basic knowledge, but tbh I can not face the arrangements/times for David to take us when Ram has the time to do it. And or course she would only need the in-house test and Ram checks her physically every three months when he comes here. And now I have to try to get hold of Vadim for her rabies shot, which she can only have four weeks after her booster - and I am going to have to check with Ram when he gave her the booster because I can not read his writing. Do Not Ask.
Thank crunchie for Breedia - I knew I had posted when Ram was last here because she had gained 200g, and Tik had her booster on 26 September so no urgency for her rabies shot. Ram had marked it on her card but she also had her Parkworm shot at the same time. And I can not read Ivrit script - it all looks the same scribble to me.
He looks okay to me... But then I am used to looking at a wide load FATTY. Since Jade died, that's all I see now so it's hard for me to look at a dog from the top and be sure he's the right weight. Either way he isn't TOO bad even if he's got a bit of extra weight there.
