Thyroid deficiency
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Thyroid deficiency
Anyone have any experience with thyroid deficiency in fillies? This is a mild case diagnosed through blood work on a three year old that is just not performing up to her potential.
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SymRanch
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I've had some vets say that it's unusual, and yet we have 3 of our broodmares on thyroid supplements because they've tested slightly below "normal" range when they aren't on them. Personally, I think too many vets don't think to run the test.
It's a simple test, and a relatively inexpensive supplement. And works MIRACLES for getting that little bit of "dullness" off that they have when the levels are low. You'll probably see a noticeable difference in under a month.
What part of PA are you in?? Our vet in Coatesville has a lot of experience with this.
It's a simple test, and a relatively inexpensive supplement. And works MIRACLES for getting that little bit of "dullness" off that they have when the levels are low. You'll probably see a noticeable difference in under a month.
What part of PA are you in?? Our vet in Coatesville has a lot of experience with this.
Symranch, I'm near Philly, but the filly in question is up at Finger Lakes as she is New York bred.
The filly is under the care of a trainer who works with the vets at Cornell. She's trying various things to turn this filly around, as the horse showed a glimmer of heart, but now can't make it more than halfway through a race. Obviously there's a problem somewhere - all the usual suspects have been explored - recent bloodwork pointed a finger at low thryroid function.
I am encouraged by what you say about the short time that improvement takes with supplements. This could be a complex of different issues in her case, but it would be nice if this is the silver bullet!
The filly is under the care of a trainer who works with the vets at Cornell. She's trying various things to turn this filly around, as the horse showed a glimmer of heart, but now can't make it more than halfway through a race. Obviously there's a problem somewhere - all the usual suspects have been explored - recent bloodwork pointed a finger at low thryroid function.
I am encouraged by what you say about the short time that improvement takes with supplements. This could be a complex of different issues in her case, but it would be nice if this is the silver bullet!
hi monicabee
I don't know why...but it seems that too often the thyroid levels are left unchecked.
I recommend a simple T-4 be done by your vet (I suggest it's money well spent). Seems like quite often the results are LOW (to varying degrees)...hypothyroidism.
Usually Thyro-L (levothyroxine sodium powder) supplement does the trick.
Respectfully
I don't know why...but it seems that too often the thyroid levels are left unchecked.
I recommend a simple T-4 be done by your vet (I suggest it's money well spent). Seems like quite often the results are LOW (to varying degrees)...hypothyroidism.
Usually Thyro-L (levothyroxine sodium powder) supplement does the trick.
Respectfully
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louis finochio
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Paint some iodine about the size of a golf ball on your TB coat. 24 hours later check if the iodine has been absorbed into the blood stream and is not visable. If you cant see the iodine the TB is thyroid deficient, if the iodine is still visible the TB is not deficient.
Those without sin cast the first stone.
Louis Finochio
Louis Finochio
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mary syers
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Euthyroid
Low thyroid can be a sign of other health problems. They call it euthyroid(normal Thyroid) sick in vet school. Any young horse diagnosed with low thyroid needs a good physical. Mary Syers
hi mary syers
You wrote "Any young horse diagnosed with low thyroid needs a good physical."
Young...fair enough...but what about broodmares? Don't you find that a T-4 seems to expose a low level (to varying degrees of course) more often than many might expect, among the broodmare population?
Respectfully
You wrote "Any young horse diagnosed with low thyroid needs a good physical."
Young...fair enough...but what about broodmares? Don't you find that a T-4 seems to expose a low level (to varying degrees of course) more often than many might expect, among the broodmare population?
Respectfully
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mary syers
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Broodmares
FOS,
A good physical never hurt anyone, but pregnacy does some weird and wonderful things. A brood mare with a slightly low T-4 and a history of carrying her foals to term, I might leave alone If she had trouble getting in foal or slipped and had a low T-4, she'd be on suppliment immediately. I try not to over think mother nature on pregnancy. Its an impossible task, hard on the mare, frought with impossible problems, and most of the time it works to perfection. When the contruction problem is beyond your knowledge, sometimes you have to trust the engineer that designed it. Mary Syers
A good physical never hurt anyone, but pregnacy does some weird and wonderful things. A brood mare with a slightly low T-4 and a history of carrying her foals to term, I might leave alone If she had trouble getting in foal or slipped and had a low T-4, she'd be on suppliment immediately. I try not to over think mother nature on pregnancy. Its an impossible task, hard on the mare, frought with impossible problems, and most of the time it works to perfection. When the contruction problem is beyond your knowledge, sometimes you have to trust the engineer that designed it. Mary Syers
hi mary syers
Why wait until a mare slips (or experiences difficulty conceiving or whatever) before taking action on a T-4...the result of which is even "slightly low" (your words)? Is there a downside (in your opinion) in using Thyro-L when the level is below (even slightly) the lower end of the acceptable (or 'normal' or whatever) range...particularly when all else is 'normal' ?
If you're willing to accept 'low' thyroid levels among broodmares (based on your "mother nature" premise)...is it unreasonable to suggest that the veterinary association(s) should create (or adjust or whatever) a different range of acceptable (or normal or whatever) re: broodmares?
Best to you.
Respectfully
Why wait until a mare slips (or experiences difficulty conceiving or whatever) before taking action on a T-4...the result of which is even "slightly low" (your words)? Is there a downside (in your opinion) in using Thyro-L when the level is below (even slightly) the lower end of the acceptable (or 'normal' or whatever) range...particularly when all else is 'normal' ?
If you're willing to accept 'low' thyroid levels among broodmares (based on your "mother nature" premise)...is it unreasonable to suggest that the veterinary association(s) should create (or adjust or whatever) a different range of acceptable (or normal or whatever) re: broodmares?
Best to you.
Respectfully
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thorohorse
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thyroid
I have a lot of experience with this problem and I have had many vets tell me its more common than people realize. There is a product called(Thyro-L) one small scoop daily is sufficient for most horses in training but! it is suggested that you start out with two of the measuring scoops for 5 days then back to the one. I personaly have had to use three measuring scoops a day on one individule. A few noticable Signs for a low active thyroid is they will act lethargic and back out of the feed tub. In my experience the warmer the season the more prevalent this condition will be. Oh I almost forgot.... Regarding the breeding shed. It is recommended that if the animal has been on thyroid medication during there racing career, they will more than likely need it to be in better health for breeding.
UPDATE: The filly is responding to treatment - her bloodwork is good and she is showing signs of having some bottom again - after a month off and three weeks of treatment, she raced and finished fourth out of eleven in a sprint (she is a router) - making a late bid (as she did in her first race but never thereafter). Having got to a point where not finishing last by thirty lengths looks good, a fourth is something to celebrate.
Interestingly, she never showed any of the classic signs like lethargy or lack of appetite. She was fairly frisky in her workouts. She had a complete physical after several dull finishes but it showed nothing untoward. Maybe the racetrack life is just stressing her in some low-level way, like living in NYC used to do to me.
We'll see how she comes out of this one and hopefully she can stretch out again and live up to her potential, even if she has to stay on the Thyroid-L.
Another horse, another race, another lesson learned.
Interestingly, she never showed any of the classic signs like lethargy or lack of appetite. She was fairly frisky in her workouts. She had a complete physical after several dull finishes but it showed nothing untoward. Maybe the racetrack life is just stressing her in some low-level way, like living in NYC used to do to me.
We'll see how she comes out of this one and hopefully she can stretch out again and live up to her potential, even if she has to stay on the Thyroid-L.
Another horse, another race, another lesson learned.
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thorohorse
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Hi monicabee,
Only time will tell if she will need to stay on it. Every 30 days you might run the test. Mind you tho.. if the only sign / symptom she shows is by perfoming badly, you might place her in competition and find out the hard way by bringing her level even further down. Do this... have who ever is training her to keep very close monitor of her feed. Now that she is on the medication try to put the groceries to her even more. You might just find, that what you thought was a good appetite, really wasn't good for her at all. You might be pleasantly surprised to see her become a completely different Horse all together.
Only time will tell if she will need to stay on it. Every 30 days you might run the test. Mind you tho.. if the only sign / symptom she shows is by perfoming badly, you might place her in competition and find out the hard way by bringing her level even further down. Do this... have who ever is training her to keep very close monitor of her feed. Now that she is on the medication try to put the groceries to her even more. You might just find, that what you thought was a good appetite, really wasn't good for her at all. You might be pleasantly surprised to see her become a completely different Horse all together.
One other thing, if she does not have one, put a trace mineral block in her stall. I know these are NEVER seen around the track, but they are in all my stalls and EVERY SINGLE HORSE I have gotten off the track heads for that the minute he or she gets here and literally gnaws on it for a day or two. She could also have a mineral deficiency. There is no feed so complete... only the horse knows it is mineral-deficient, and which minerals... sometimes they show you they are by licking the walls. Also wood chewing.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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Tucumcari
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Long term use has been rumored to lead to dependancy. Lately the vets I have been involved with are claiming that if the levels are abnormal a short term use of thyro-l is preferable to "kick start" the body to normal levels then removing the thyro-l. and they claim that the levels are then maintained... any yea or nay sayers..?