by pitbullpony » February 10th, 2006, 11:01 am
Apparently Dr. W Jean Dodds DVM has linked hypothyroidism to acl tears; I have seen it somewhere else as well; but more along the lines of untreated hypothyroidism causes ligament weakness.
The reason I feel there is a link is that my deceased pit Indy was seasonally hypothyroid - he was a strange bird; but when his blood test was received he was low-normal - but clinically showed signs - ballooned up to 120 lbs (from about 80-90 lbs couch weight), he was horribly bald - symmetrical black skinned balding patches on either side of his body, he was cold, ate like a horse; but his skin was horrible. My vet wanted to do more tests, but I contacted a naturopathic vet and she said; bull breeds often test incorrectly; but once on soloxine come right back. So vet put him on a trial dose; he did very well. However middle of the summer (this happened in March of his 2 year old year, just after his yearly vaxx) the soloxine was too much and he went down to needing no doses at all - he became hyperthyroid on the meds.
I now wonder if his was seasonal, or he simply reacted poorly to vaccinations (also a idea presented by Dodds).
He didn't get an acl tear until his 6th year; he was thyroid normal at the time; but perhaps because it took me so long and the vet so long to recognize the initial thyroid problem that he suffered ligament damage then and as he aged and was vaccinated more the ligaments were damaged more.
He was not a graceful dog; at about 70 lbs. legitimate and 80 at the time; he ran like a rhinoceros and of course had the heart of a pitbull; was all try; so he would chase balls, frisbees, etc and simply stopped too hard and damaged the ligament.
He subsequently came down with kidney failure in the fall of his 6th year and was put to sleep just after his 7th birthday.
Loved him dearly; he was my own first dog; but I will definitely do things differently now.