Why is Molly so lethargic?!

[missmolly]

Can anyone advise please. I don't know where to go from here. Molly is now 5. She is plump, and I really don't think it's earned. She turns down treats!
When we go for walks, the amount of people that comment with stuff like, she's old now isn't she! I get so annoyed! She does always look worn out though! Her and our mini schnauzer get 2 hours walks a day. But Molly makes it look a real effort. I've been to 2 vets in 3 years asking for a thyroid test. It's just come back negative again. I don't know how it is with dogs, but my test was negative as well, altho' I had all the symptoms and lumps all over my thyroid. ( discovered later. ) So... do I believe the vet, or get the test results and decipher them myself?! ( with help!)
Any advice welcome....

[Linda B]

I would go back to the vets for more tests. Hope you find out whats going on and it's nothing serious.

[LurcherGirl]

What sort of thyroid test have they done? You need a comprehensive thyroid test which also tests antibodies (TgAA), this includes testing for T4, free T4, T3, free T3, TgAA, TSH. Most vets do a basic thyroid test (T4, TSH) which doesn't always give the correct information. If antibodies (that destroy the thyroid glands) are present, then the thyroid hormone levels (T4/free T4) can look ok eventhough they are not! If a vet doesn't do the comprehensive test, then they will never know that.

Also, if you get the results from a comprehensive test, please send them to Jean Dodds (a vet in the States that specialises in thyroid) to interpret the results correctly for you! Many vets can't interpret them correctly because they don't know the relationship between antibodies and T4 or the different normal levels for different breeds, ages etc. ; Jean Dodds does and she is very helpful.

Google for her name and lots of info will come up that might be helpful for you.  

[missmolly]

Thanks for that. The thyroid is certainly a compicated thing! Once upon a time I would just have taken the vets word for it, but after my own experience...never!
I'll go and ask for the test results tommorow and see exactly what's been tested.
He did say he would ask for a progesterone test if the thyroid was okay, but when I asked, it was clear he'd forgotten. It's annoying because these tests are not cheap.
I'll let you know the results, incase anyone else ever has a spaniel with the same symptoms!

[Joules]

What do you feed her?

[rubyduby]

I had a Cocker who was bloated and very lacking in energy it turned out she had acute Kydney problems ....I think she suffered dropsy which I only realised myself lonf after she died aged 7...she did not have enough calcium and had rubber jaw which was exacerbated with having pups..the vets never picked upon it though I took her several times.....

[silke]

Oh no. Sorry to hear that.  Charlie isn't the most active, he loves sleeping, but I'm going to get him checked out, just in case.

[LinziS]

Erin is much the same...a little overweight and plods rather than walks. She will have a few minutes of chasing a ball on a couple of occasions on walks but thats about it. She also huffs and puffs if on a long walk and would rather sleep around the clock. She is currently on Arden Grange Light but doesnt even get the full recommended allowance as we try to get her to lose a kilo or so
 Sick of people saying that she looks like an old lady now as she is only 6yr.
Have had her checked by the vet but they do not seem concerned.....just said she a laid back girl who doent have the usual cocker madness and energy so this is an interesting post I will be following avidly.

[LurcherGirl]

Hypothyroidism is an issue in American cocker spaniels (which my Jesse is who has autoimmune thyroiditis - breeders in the States often test for it before breeding their dogs) where inherited hypothyroidism (autoimmune thyroiditis - where the dog's own antibodies attack the thyroid gland) is a lot more common than it should be. So I wouldn't be surprised if it occured in English cockers too (as it does in many other breeds that are prone to it) and would certainly test for it properly.