Hello,
My dog has got balding patches on his flanks area - same places both sides, and is also licking the top half of his front legs, so the hair there is really thinning.  I did mention on one of my replies to someone that the vet thinks it's a food allergy, but I'm thinking of getting him tested for thyroid - so just wondering, are dogs usually put under general for the blood test, or does it depend on the vet?
  Hilda

Normally a needle in the leg....They dont need to go under for that.  Just hold them still and give them lots of fuss!

We were told by our vet that a blood test costs in the region of £150 !!!! Gulp . Is this the usual price ??
Lel

Blimey! Sounds a bit steep to me. One of my dogs is hypothyroid and the vets here charge about £45 for the blood test I think. And they send it to a lab in the US for analysis! (Jean Dodds' lab - she is an expert on thyroid and other immune mediated conditions).

Are they doing a whole raft of different tests or something?
Janet

Hilda I was not saying it was a thyroid problem but because of the coat loss felt it should be mentioned to the vet, there is normally a weight increase as well with a thyroid problem although the symptoms are not always the same. Just thought you should not accept that it is a food intolerance until a full set of tests have been done, even if it is an allergy it would be best to know what too, may be soap powder.

Hi Jackie,
    I know it might not be thyroid, and I hope it isn't, but I'm just not sure about the food allergy thing.  Cody started having eye problems, like constant conjunctivitis back in Feb, so took him to an eye specialist who reckoned allergy.  She said I could have a blood test done for £35 that would say either yes or no it's allergy, but when I mentioned it to my vet he just sort of laughed and said no that's not right.  She said I could go on to further blood tests to find out what the allergy is to, but my vet reckons that's going to be a waste of time - said there might be 20 things on the list that are tested for, and Cody might be allergic to number 22 (not on the list).  That's why I thought it might be a good idea to rule out thyroid first, now with the hair loss as well.  He has put 2 kg weight on, but then he is only 19 months!
   Hilda

Hi S/Beams, heres some info on thyroid testing from Jean Dodds web pages, I know I lot of people in UK use her lab for the testing & don`t pay the amount thats been quoted, shes one of the top people for it :)
Scroll down the page to Genetic screening for thyroid disease

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ImmuneSystem.htm

Christine, Spain.

Thanks for that, Christine - though I have to say out of the big list of symptoms, my dog has really only got one, so perhaps we are barking up the wrong tree!
  Hilda

Eye problems, thyroid problems, "possible" allergies are all symptoms of auto-immune disease.  What breed is your dog Sunbeam?
Dawn.

Hi Dawn,
  He is an Australian Shepherd.  With his eye problems, I've always thought it was an auto-immune problem, but then the vet's not much help, just says that's very unlikely.  Is there a test for auto-immune disease, or would that be the same as a thyroid blood test?  It's all quite confusing!
  Hilda

I Have an Afghan with eye problems and she has been dianosed as hypothyroid.  The eye problem had been on going for three years until someone suggested a test for thyroid.

Hi Sue,
  That's interesting to know.  What exactly were her eye problems?  With Cody, it started when he was 10 months, looked like conjunctivitis, but then it kept flaring up every few weeks and no longer responded to the usual treatments.
Still gets it now, his eye whites just basically look red and sore.  Sometimes he scratches at them, so that he starts losing the fur around them - the only thing to clear it are steroid drops called prednisole forte.
Hilda

Hi Sunbeams

She has repetitive corneal ulcers.  Started three years ago with ulcers on both eyes for Christmas poor thing.  At first it cleared up with fucithalmic oitment.  She seemed to get them every couple of months to begin with but only in one eye.  She was referred to a specialist who could not really find a reason for them. With each ulcer the cornea got thinner until one day last March the cornea ruptured and I had no option but to have her eye removed.  The remaining eye was also scared from an ulcer but from March to August she was fine and then one morning the ulcer was there.  I have no warning it just appears.  The outcome is that I have had a corneal graft done to give the cornea a chance to heal. Usually they cut the graft once it has shrunk but wont in her case as she really needs the help.  Her vision is not 100 percent but she manages much the same as before.  So far so good but I think she is living on borrowed time as I know that if she loses the sight in this eye she will not manage if she is blind.

Hi Sue,
  Your poor dog, that certainly sounds a lot worse than what is affecting Cody.  I have got an older border collie, who is losing her sight - just due to old age - but it's quite amazing how she adapts.  A lot of people wouldn't actually know she's even got a problem.  The only time we notice is when we are out and she is off lead - she sometimes 'loses' us, in that she can't seem to see us from about 20 feet away.
  Hilda