Cats:

The lack of sufficient thyroid hormone in cats might lead to weight gain, lethargy, cold intolerance, poor coat condition and a poor sign of interest. Blood tests are required to see if your cat has a thyroid problem. Treatments are normally successful within 30 days and will improve your cats appearance and demeanor significantly. The vet will most likely order a follow-up test within a month to determine how much the hormone levels have stabilized. Most likely your animal will be on thyroid medication for as long as it lives.

On the other hand, too much thyroid hormone triggers an assortment of physical and mental changes in the cat. This mal-function of the thyroid gland is most commonly seen in older cats and can cause cardiac abnormalities, agitation, hyperactivity and marked weight loss. Your veterinarian should check older cats that experience a rapid heart rate, weight loss - but no change in eating habits and seem hyperactive. Treatment varies depending on the actual cause but animals respond generally well once this disorder is controlled.

Since thyroid mal-function can be related to soy products make sure your kibbles do not contain soy in any form!

Dogs:

Thyroid disease in dogs can be tough to diagnose. The symptoms can be sometimes very contradictory: lethargy, aggressiveness, mental lassitude, hyperactivity, weight gain, weight loss, dull coat, skin infections, constipation, diarrhea, cold intolerance, skin odor, hair loss, greasy skin, dry skin, reproductive problems, reproductive difficulties, and more.

Serious diseases can be associated with thyroid problems. They are: excessive bleeding, corneal ulcers, ruptured knee ligaments, etc.

Thyroid disease can be inherited or of uncertain origin. After proper diagnosis (blood tests) the treatment is simple by supplementing an essential hormone twice daily. Your veterinarian might order a second, follow-up test 1 - 2 months after starting treatment to make sure that the administered medication is appropriate and the hormone levels are back within the normal range. Every dog with thyroid disease should have at least one yearly check-up.

Some dogs are genetically more prone to develop thyroid problems than others. This is a great concern for breeders. Even a thyroid test on a one year-old animal that came out normal does not mean that this animal won’t develop thyroid problems at a later time. Symptoms generally appear between 2 - 6 years of age.

Researchers found though that any kind of soy products might trigger this malfunction. Read labels carefully when you buy your dog food, if in doubt; call the manufacturer and double check.

Below are some breeds that are more likely to become affected by lymphocytic thyroiditis than others:

Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Boxer, Irish Setter, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Great Dane, Beagle, Borzoi, American Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, and Akita.