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  Discussion on Why is HYPOThyroidism Constantly Misdiagnosed?
Author Message
Member:
Sjeys

Posted on Thursday, Sep 7, 2006 - 10:33 am:

I have a friend whose cresty horse just foundered and her vet found marginally low T3 levels and put the horse on Thyro - L. I'm just wondering why vets continue to misdiagnose this? Do they not know that obesity and crestiness are NOT signs of HYPOthyroidism...are they thinking of humans and what we associate with a hypothyroid problem?

This is one area of equine medicine that drives me crazy...Is it laziness?...its always been done this way and it buys them some time? I'm really confused as to why I see Thyro L prescribed with abandon every time a slightly gray Thyroid result comes up...

Argh! :-)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 7, 2006 - 11:20 am:

The confusion of Equine Metabolic SynDrOme with Hypothyroidism along with PHF misdiagnosis, and uterine infection misdiagnosis are some of the reasons I started this site Susan. I hope it has helped, it certainly made me feel better.
DrO
Member:
Erika

Posted on Thursday, Sep 7, 2006 - 9:10 pm:

Thanks for bringing this up. I wasted money on Thro L for years before I got a good explanation.
Another reason why we love this site, Dr. O!
Member:
Merens

Posted on Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 - 9:31 am:

Dr O
Now I understand your strange reaction to my questions: the reasons why you set this site up, etc. It's been bothering me...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 6:54 am:

Hello Miss JM Smith,
Strange??? I try to avoid strange and much prefer to tend humorous. I do find humor on the internet is often taken personally so some might think me a bit dry. Hmmm....but I must say "The Strange DrO" has a bit of ring about it. Almost a little scary.
DrO
Member:
Merens

Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 7:15 am:

You have brightened up my day of wet horse walking with a fat lovely pony who has been helped by you (despite the lack of humidity in your humour), and reinforced my belief in the wisest being able to laugh at themselves. Thank you, Strange Dr Oooooo....
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 1:05 pm:

Mmmm note quite understand your post Miss Smith, Would you please try not to be so bl...dy british and write a bit about yourself in your profile... Give us a bit of gossip love...
Member:
Merens

Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 2:12 pm:

It would be foolish of me not to be who I am, and unkind of others to ask that I be.
Member:
edf03

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 7:38 pm:

This is another question for Dr. O about hypothyroidism. My horse was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 2 years ago. He had foundered and had been developing a cresty neck and fat pads at the tail. But otherwise was not overweight at the time. He is normally very active and has a playful attention deficit disorder type of personality but when the vet came to look at him he was almost comatose with glassy eyes. Do horses with founder look that ill? The Thyrol reversed all this. My question now is if he was misdiagnosed and has been on Thyrol all this time is there any chance of ever getting him off it? Or has it shut down his normal thyroid function?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 8:14 am:

The question Diane is did the horse get well because of the Thyro-L or in spite of it? Horses with founder get well all the time that are not treated with thyroid supplements.

Though not studied, horses inappropriately put on Thyro-L, even for years, have been weaned off it. I recommend this be done slowly over a 3 to 6 month period and with the help and supervision of your veterinarian.
DrO
Member:
edf03

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 1:29 pm:

Thanks Dr. O I will talk to my vet about it. It would certainly save money if I could get CJ off the medication.
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