My Dobe girl is on Forthyron for underactive thyroid. 

The vet keeps wanting blood tests every 3 months to test the medication is at the right level.  It always has been so is it really necessary to keep having the tests?  Now they won't prescribe any more medication unless we have another test.  Of course if she needs it she needs it but it's not that cheap and not insurable as it was already diagnosed when we took her on.

Do any of you have any experience or advice?  Is it normal to test this often?

Thanks, Mel

I have an hypo-t Afghan who was originally tested every six months and suddenly I was informed that it had to be every three.  I have now changed my vet who said that by rights (law?) I should test every six months but he is happy to do it once a year as he is confident that I will pick up on any change so would go for a test sooner.

Sue

My Dobes are tested annually (1 is underactive, 1 is normal). The one that is underactive is on thyroxyl. The blood samples are sent to Dr Jean Dodds in the US, who is an expert in the field - she recommends annual testing. If your dog is stable I can't see any reason for testing every 3 months.

Thanks for you replies, I feel more confident to query it now. 3 months did seem a bit excessive not only cost wise but in stress for my girl, those needles are huge!

I have now changed my vet who said that by rights (law?) I should test every six months but he is happy to do it once a year

The law says any animal on permanent medication has to be checked by a vet at least every 6 months, or the vet will not be allowed to continue supplying the drugs.  I believe it is up to the vet what they actually do at the check up.

You are right Marianne, regarding the 6 month checks. All my dogs have a regular check-up at the Vets every 6 months, but only have the blood tests annually. If they looked awful at one of the check-ups then a blood test would probably be carried out early. But if they looked and seemed well the blood test would be done at the next check-up. I do think 3-monthly is a bit on the excessive side, especially as the medication has been stable for a while.

one of my girls is hypo-t and my vet insists on bloods every 3 months, which i find really annoying too as she has been on the same dose now for 18 months and has been stable, but they wont give any meds if i dont test every three months, i would be interested to know the law as if it is a legal requirement for every 6 months then i can say this when i go back in a few weeks time. My girl is insured but not everyones dogs are like yourself and the bloods are expensive.

What do you have to pay for the forthyron?

My girl is on soloxine and it is £15 for 60 tablets which i think is pretty good

one of my girls is hypo-t and my vet insists on bloods every 3 months, which i find really annoying too as she has been on the same dose now for 18 months and has been stable, but they wont give any meds if i dont test every three months,

One of my bitches has just been diagnosed hypothyroid and the vet told me that we'd only really need to blood test if she didn't improve or got worse.

My American cocker is on soloxine for hypothyroidsm. He was tested 2 months after diagnoses, another 2 after that and now it'll just be when necessary, probably yearly! As his most acute and obvious symptoms when hypo are behaviour issues (aggression), it would show very quickly if something is out of sink in his case!
Personally I wouldn't be happy with three-monthly tests unless necessary as Jesse hates bloods being taken, so it would just put unnecessary stress on Jesse, me and the vet!

I have an underactive thyroid, no I know I'm not a dog (but have been called a bitch on occasions) :)
When I was first diagnosed I had blood tests every 3 months until my levels were right, but now I have blood tests yearly and they are necessary because just a tiny increase or decrease in the thyroid function can make you feel quite poorly.

> What do you have to pay for the forthyron?
>

About £17 for 90 tabs which lasts 6 weeks.  It seems pretty reasonable to me and easy to fit into our budget.

The bloods however make more of a dent and although my girl has a lovely nature and generally loves the vet, she goes rigid with fear when that needle comes out, can't say I blame her really.