Allergies or Thyroid?? Finn's Journey to Better Health

I had the pleasure of meeting Finn and his family this past June, thanks to Kim Gibson at Vada's Club K9 grooming salon for recognizing that he needed some special help.

Upon seeing Finn in person, I had noticed a strong odor. His eyes were so swollen that he could hardly see, his tail had very little hair, his body had patches of hair, he had absolutely no energy, and he had elephant skin.

Poor Finn was a hot mess and not a happy boy. Finn was originally diagnosed with allergies and even had an out of Province veterinarian do allergy testing on him.

 

Here is his story.....

“In May 2021, we were at an all-time low on what to do with our dog Finn. We thought we were going to lose him. My husband and I were dealing with a sick dog for some time but did not know where to turn to. Finn smelled so bad that we were embarrassed to have anyone over.

His ears were constantly dirty and runny, and we could not keep up with cleaning them! We used every kind of soap imaginable, not to mention the cost of all these products. It was only when I went to Vada’s Club K9 to have Finn bathed that they suggested a nutritionist.

I came home and spoke to my husband about it. I texted Donna Middleton, and we were interested in what she had to say in no time at all! She was so enthusiastic and quick to respond to any communication. We planned the date and time, and she immediately said to have Finn checked for Thyroid.

We did have him checked several years ago, but it was obvious that he had been suffering from it recently. She planned several weeks of a new diet for Finn, along with Adored Beast products, some of which we had used before and had gotten great results from. She also suggested going back to Vada’s Club K9 and have Kim Gibson bathe Finn in a veggie rinse.

Finn did not have any hair left on his chest, and his skin resembled elephant skin. We now have our dog Finn back, thanks to Donna Middleton and Kim Gibson! You should feel him now! He feels so soft like silk, and his hair has grown back. I still clean his ears, but they are nowhere near as bad as a few months ago.

Nella”

 

Having seen thyroid issues in the past gave me insight into some of the symptoms. The thyroid can present differently in each case and can be quite difficult to diagnose, as well as it is often misdiagnosed in both people and pets.

His low energy and how his tail and body had small patches of hair made me think that his thyroid could be out of whack.

Finn's family made an appointment right away with their veterinarian for a full thyroid panel test. Not long after, they had a call to say that indeed the test had come back positive.

He started on medications recommended by their veterinarian along with his raw diet and my suggested supplement protocol to support his immune system and help balance his raw diet.

Finn has made an incredible transformation!!! I was even shocked with how much he has improved!!!

Thanks to his family's perseverance, Finn has his energy back, and as you can see in his photos, his hair has grown back. Finn's quality of life is back!!! YEAH FINN!!!

Be part of your dog's health team and have open discussions with your veterinarian and your groomer to solve problems.

Your groomer is very familiar with skin disease, and they get a good look at the skin, ears, eyes and mouth when doing a full groom.

Groomers may surprise you with what they know.

Be your pet's advocate!

Follow your gut when it tells you that things are not what you are being told.

Vets are human too, and we expect them to be perfect, so don't be upset if they are not.

Dr. Jean Dodds DVM is an expert on Thyroid issues.