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  Discussion on Newly diagnosed hypothyroid
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New Member:
Martina

Posted on Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 - 6:32 pm:

Hello. My 9-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter ("Ghost") has been diagnosed by my local vet with hypothyroidim (based on a recent blood test), and is being placed on 1 scoop of Thyro-L daily. Ghost is 15.1hh and weighs about 1250 lbs., despite being on a (timothy) hay-only diet. He is the picture of health (no founder, laminitis, colic, navicular, etc.) except that he is overweight (7 to 8 body score). He has always been prone to weight gain, as he is not ridden very much at all. My question is whether putting him on Thyro-L is a "rush to judgment" or whether there is some other test to confirm the diagnosis? What is the down-side/risk if I put him on Thyro-L if he doesn't have a real hypothyroid condition? Thank you...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2005 - 7:51 am:

Welcome Tina,
All these questions are directly answered in the article associated with this forum. Click on Hypothyroidism in Adult Equines on the navigation frame above to access it. I believe the Hypothyroidism article will refer you to and provide a link to Equine Metabolic SynDrOme which is much more likely in your case.
DrO
New Member:
Martina

Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2005 - 9:28 am:

Thanks for your response! I've read all the articles, but remain somewhat confused. Other than being overweight, Ghost has never foundered or has had ANY health-related issues that could be attributed to either EMS or Hypothyroidism. He is on grass pasture for 9-10 hours in the Spring/Summer and on good quality timothy (with vitamin supplement) in the Fall/Winter. So if he is not showing any other clinical symptoms, would you assume he's just a healthy horse who's overeating? Or should I continue to pursue an "underlying cause?"
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 - 10:55 am:

A horse with a body score of 8 being fed only timothy hay has about all the symptoms you need to diagnose EMS. And whether EMS, simple obesity, or even hypothyroidism (which it is not) you need to begin a diet to reduce the horses weight as he is prone to founder at this condition for more information see, Care for Horses » Nutrition » Fat or Obese Horse Nutrition.
DrO
New Member:
Martina

Posted on Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 - 11:40 am:

O.K., understood. Just a couple more questions:

(1) By cutting back on hay intake (10 lbs/day is very very little), Ghost will be going for hours without eating. I realize that the total intake should be divided into 2 meals, but how long is "safe" to go between feedings without causing GI and other issues?

(2) In your article on EMS, you state "Thyroid supplementation in very easy keepers, particularly those that suffer from Metabolic SynDrOme, increases insulin sensitivity and has resulted in weight loss.." So to aid weight loss, would it be prudent to supplement with Thyro-L, at least in the short term?

Thanks again.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2005 - 8:01 am:

1) There is no such known time Tina. Horses go 10 hours without eating but some horses develop stall vices others gi problems. Instead I would recommend you find a very stemmy hay that he can eat most of the day without taking in too many calories.

2) Because of the important wide ranging effects of thyroid hormone I don't think so. I have not found it necessary if the diet is well controlled.
DrO
Member:
Martina

Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2005 - 9:59 am:

Thanks again. I now have Ghost on a diet and will also try to start an exercise routine with him. Using the calculations in the article, his estimated ideal body weight should be about 1125 lbs. So I am giving him 11-12 lbs. of hay/day. The hay we have now is almost 1 year old, so I am supplementing with vitamins which I have to mix with a handful of pellets (Triple Crown Lite) to get him to eat his vitamin supplement. We are about to purchase more hay, so I will look for a course, stemmy, clean grass hay. Thanks again for your advice. I'm also going to search the internet for the negative effects of thyroid medication.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2005 - 3:07 pm:

We have an article on this at, Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Miscellaneous Drugs » Levothroxine.
DrO
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