Best Dog Food For Hypothyroidism

Why You Should Consider Changing Foods

Changing dog foods is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to help your dog combat thyroid problems like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Any reduction in symptoms you can achieve means that your dog may not have to take as many medications and they very well might be able to lead a more active and fun life with you and your family. Scout knows that you love the canine members of your family and hopes this list of dog foods has offered some scrumptious options to help out for a lifetime of health and good times.

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Foods To Avoid When A Dog Has Hypothyroidism

Weve discussed what types of foods to look for when it comes to feeding your dog with hypothyroidism. Equally important is what to avoid. There are a few universal truths about dogs: they should never eat chocolate, as its toxic.

Eggs should be cooked as if you were making them for yourself, and onions are out since they kill dogs red blood cells, resulting in death. Your vet may also recommend avoiding canned food and table scraps. As noted above, a natural diet is a must. Consult your veterinarian on which foods would be best for your dog.

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Thats particularly true if your dog packed on some pounds due to thyroid problems. After all, weight gain is one of the main physical symptoms of canine hypothyroidism. Quality animal proteins can give your dog the support they need to maintain lean muscle mass and go down to healthy body weight.

Despite what you might think, it’s not enough to find the dog food with the highest protein levels, though. You still have to check where the proteins are coming from, and whether theyre sourced from real meat or meat by-products.

Also, dont forget about animal-based fat your dogs food should include essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Many of the symptoms of canine hypothyroidism are coat and skin-related, and the inclusion of healthy sources of animal-based fats chicken fat and salmon oil, for example can play a vital role in recovery.

Easily Digestible

Your dogs favorite kibbles can be enriched will all sorts of healthy nutrients, but they have to be easily digestible, too.

I mean, what good are all these nutrients if your dog isnt able to digest them properly?

There are a few ways to ensure that your dog’s food is easily digestible and avoiding gluten-rich grains is one of them.

Hypothyroidism or not, your dogs diet should only ever include small quantities of gluten-free, non-GMO grains. When in doubt, always go with animal-based ingredients, as these are most easily digestible for dogs.

Food Enriched with Thyroid-Supporting Nutrients

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What Happens If My Dog Doesnt Receive Treatment For Hypothyroidism

Dogs with hypothyroidism will experience weight gain, muscle weakness, and related discomfort due to these changes. Thyroid disorders can also lead to hair loss, anxiety, sluggishness, and a lack of activity.

Without a balanced diet and medical treatment, dogs with this thyroid condition will struggle with fatigue, slowed heart rate, sensitivity to heat or cold, and joint pain. For this reason, its essential to consult with a vet if any symptoms reveal the possibility of thyroid issues.

Free Of Artificial Additives

lastly, make sure that the dog food you give your dog is free of any artificial additives including flavors, colors, and preservatives. Artificial ingredients will only affect your pets thyroid function which is why you must avoid them at all costs.

Once youve picked the best dog food that will suit your dogs needs, make sure you transition him slowly. Dont put him into a sudden diet switch at once. Make sure that your dog will get used to his new diet little by little.

You can start by mixing around 30% of his new food with 70% of his old food for a few days. Once he takes a liking to his new meal, gradually increase the percentage until he can fully tolerate the changes.

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Which Diet Is Best For Dogs With Hypothyroidism

Your first priority when it comes to feeding your pup with hypothyroidism should be to provide a balanced diet. Heres what that looks like:

Animal-Based Sources

A Balanced Diet

In addition to the above, you might not think dogs would eat fruits and vegetables but they can definitely use the carbohydrates and dietary fiber to support their digestive system.

Other nutrients such as iodine help the thyroid produce thyroid hormones. Also look for foods that contain natural sources of vitamin A, vitamin B, iron and folic acid, such as liver, to support thyroid function and blood health.

High-Quality Ingredients

As a rule of thumb, a short list of ingredients is a good thing. Wholesome, natural foods such as fats, animal proteins, fruits and vegetables are best.

Highly Digestible

Dogs naturally digest animal-based ingredients better, but supplements such as probiotics and prebiotic fibers can add that extra kick he needs to digest all of his food well.

No Artificial Additives

Artificial preservatives, flavors and colors that are in many commercial dog foods can negatively affect how your dogs thyroid functions, so choose recipes with natural preserves , with no artificial flavors or colors.

Grain-Free

Though some dogs may be able to tolerate whole grains, many commercial dog foods use genetically modified ingredients in their grains that can affect the balance of your dogs hormones. Choose a grain-free diet just to be safe.

Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain

Featuring herring, salmon, and whitefish meals, this Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Natural Dry Food is an excellent source of both protein and omega fatty acids. In addition to plenty of protein, this formula contains ample fiber from fresh fruits and veggies to support healthy digestion as well as balanced nutrition. This recipe is naturally grain-free, highly digestible, and rich in antioxidants to support your dogs immune health.

• Pros: Several sources of premium animal protein, rich in omega fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, easily digestible, naturally grain-free, rich in antioxidants, probiotics
• Cons: main source of fat is plant-based , contains plant protein

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What Foods Should Hypothyroid Dogs Avoid

Some dog foods are not suitable for dogs with hypothyroidism. Consuming such foods can escalate the problem or cause other health problems for your dog. Below are some of the foods to avoid:

• Foods with onions: Onions are highly toxic for hypothyroid dogs. Onions destroy the red blood cells and prevent oxygen flow throughout the body. This negatively affects sick dogs as they have weak immunity. Onion toxicity can be fatal in the long run.
• Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic in large amounts. Some of the symptoms of chocolate poisoning include frequent urination, increased thirst, and diarrhea, severe symptoms include heart failure, muscle tremors, and seizures.
• Table scraps: dogs with hypothyroidism should avoid table scraps. Table scraps do not have the required nutrients for your hypothyroid dog. Most table scraps are high in fat, causing obesity in hypothyroid dogs. Moreover, table scraps expose dogs to toxins and bacteria, which escalate the problem.

Tips To Choose The Best Dog Food For Hypothyroidism

High-Quality Ingredients:Animal Protein Content:Grain-Free:Highly Digestible:No Artificial Additives:Rich in Protein:Fruits and Vegetables:Beneficial Supplements:

• Zinc and selenium to support thyroxine function
• Omega 3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat
• Biotin to promote hair growth if Fido has a thinning coat
• Probiotics to support gut function
• Milk thistle may be useful to help cleanse toxins from the liver
• Iodine if you make Fidoâs food – commercial products should have enough iodine

Probiotics: support your palâs digestive function and can help to control obesity. They give Fidoâs system the tools to suppress harmful bacteria in the gut that can trigger inflammation and diseases.

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Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Dry Dog Food

• Does not include hypothyroidism-related ingredients
• Contains rice that is a great protein substitute
• Supports better digestive health

Purina is undoubtedly a brand that most dog owners recognize and trust for the quality of their products.

The Pro Plan SAVOR Recipe is a premium combination of rice and real meat that is essential for sustaining your dogs healthy weight.

Furthermore, it can also help him keep a clean and healthy coat as well as adequate energy levels.

Adding rice to the diet of your dog tends to relieve gastrointestinal problems, which can be severe if he is suffering from hypothyroidism. Diarrhea is one of these digestive problems, which may cause dehydration and fatigue if left untreated.

Purina Pro Plan dog food for hypothyroidism could be an excellent option if your dog is used to eat traditional foods as it contains some grains that your dog is familiar with.

However, only small amounts of high-quality grains are included. Also, this dog food for hypothyroidism contains prebiotics that can enhance the digestion process.

Thyroid Tests To Ask For

Dr Dodds recommends a full thyroid panel to diagnose hypothyroidism in your dog:

• Total T4 Total amount of T4 hormone that circulates in the blood. More than 99% of T4 hormone is bound, meaning it attaches to proteins in the blood and never reaches the tissues.
• Free T4 Free T4 level tells the pituitary gland whether it needs to produce more TSH.
• Total T3 both the bound and unbound forms of T3 circulating in the blood. Serum T3 alone is not accurate as its often influenced by secondary non-thyroidal illness.
• Free T3 free T3 level tells the pituitary gland whether it needs to produce more TSH.
• Canine Thyroglobulin Autoantibody dogs with autoimmune thyroiditis will have elevated TgAA.

Hemopet has added a new measurement as well. This is the T4:Free T4 ratio. It helps distinguish between a thyroid disorder and another underlying disease.

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Fresh Ingredients And Nutritional Meals

Feeding your dog a diet thats rich in nutrients is step number one to supporting their thyroid. For some pets, home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients are the best way to get a diverse range of nutrients. Cooking with whole foods eliminates artificial preservatives from your dogs diet and avoids unhealthy fillers that often lead to nutritional deficiencies. Healthy options for home-cooked meals include steamed vegetables and lean proteins like chicken and turkey.

Dogs need healthy treats, too! Many pet owners provide healthy meals but forget to factor in snacks as part of the dogs daily calorie intake. Blueberries, avocados and pumpkin puree make wonderful training tools and snacks for dogs with hypothyroidism.

However, many store-bought foods also contain the comprehensive range of nutrients your pet needs to stay healthy. You dont have to cook at home in order to keep your dog healthy. Its best to speak with your vet to determine what diet is right for your pets needs and/or to learn how to portion home-cooked meals appropriately if thats the route you take.

Nutritional Requirements For A Dog With Hypothyroidism

For a dog with hypothyroidism, the main nutritional requirement is a balanced diet. Dogs require plenty of protein to support lean muscle mass and it is best from animal-based sources like meat, poultry, and fish. Healthy animal-based fats like chicken fat and salmon oil provide energy and essential fatty acids to address skin and coat problems caused by your dogs hypothyroidism. Your dog can also benefit from digestible carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables to provide dietary fiber for digestive support.

In addition to feeding your dog a complete and balanced diet, there are a few specific nutrients that may help support his thyroid function. Iodine, for example, is a nutrient that is used by the thyroid to make thyroid hormones. Most commercial dog foods contain plenty of iodine, but it is still something to be aware of. You might also want to look for dog foods that contain liver, a natural source of vitamin A, vitamin B, folic acid, and iron. These nutrients support blood health and thyroid function.

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What Is Hypothyroidism In Dogs

Hypothyroidism is a health condition where a dogs thyroid gland does not secrete or produce adequate thyroid hormones throughout the body. It is also a hormone imbalance due to inflamed or shrank thyroid glands, leading to insufficient thyroid hormone levels and decreased thyroid function.

A dogs thyroid gland is in the mid-neck region near the larynx or the voice box. It consists of two separate lobes located on either side of the trachea or windpipe. Once this thyroid gland encounters abnormalities or diseases, it can affect the dogs metabolism and other body functions of most organ systems.

How Do Veterinarians Treat Dogs With Hypothyroidism

Levothyroxine sodium is a standard treatment that helps dogs with an underactive thyroid. This medicine helps treat thyroid hormone deficiency and may relieve other conditions that impact the liver, brain, muscles, and kidneys. Its also commonly used to prevent certain types of tumors caused by thyroid disorders.

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Probiotics And Fiber For The Digestive Tract

A healthy gut microbiome correlates to improved thyroid health. Probiotic supplements balance out the good and bad bacteria, which is essential for good digestion. Proper digestive health leads to better absorption of nutrients that directly support the thyroid gland. A low-carb diet further supports absorption because it will limit the inflammatory response along the intestinal wall.

Additionally, every dog needs fiber to move organic waste along. However, its especially important for those with hypothyroidism. Although vets recommend a low-carb diet, fiber can make carbohydrates easier to digest. This helps ramp up a sluggish metabolism. Pet parents feeding their dogs a home-cooked diet can build in more fiber with green vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, spinach, cabbage and green beans.

While theres no cure for hypothyroidism, your dog can still live to the fullest by eating a healthy diet. A full range of vitamins and minerals is necessary alongside any other thyroid treatments prescribed by a veterinarian. Always create a home-cooked or restricted diet with help from your vet so you have the best chance of minimizing hypothyroid symptoms in your dogs life.

Basics About Hypothyroidism In Dogs

The thyroid is a small gland located in your dogs neck and it is responsible for producing certain hormones that regulate essential bodily functions.

One of the functions the thyroid regulates is metabolism if the thyroid becomes overactive, it elevates the dogs metabolism and, if it becomes under active, it slows it down. As you can imagine this leads to corresponding changes in body weight.

The term for an overactive thyroid gland is hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism refers to an under active thyroid. In dogs, there are two primary causes for hypothyroidism lymphocytic thyroiditis and idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy.

Unfortunately, hypothyroidism is a tricky condition to diagnose. It isnt because the symptoms are difficult to identify, however. The real trouble is that the diagnostic criteria for the condition have changed over the years.

If youre wondering just what hypothyroidism in dogs looks like, here is a quick dog hypothyroidism symptoms checklist:

• Lethargy or low energy

• Miniature Schnauzer

Hypothyroidism is most common in dogs who have reached 4 to 10 years of age. Usually affecting medium to large dog breeds, it is often seen equally in the male and female genders. However, the disease is rare in toy and miniature breeds.

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Wellness Core Natural Dog Food

Wellness Core Natural grain-free dog food is a highly nutritious formula prepared with premium ingredients that are highly digestible.

Wellness dog food formula is prepared using all-natural ingredients, and contains zero grains which is important when feeding dogs with hypothyroidism.

Core Natural does not contain artificial additives, preservatives, wheat, corn, meat by-products, or soy.

Whats more, the natural grain-free dog food is a protein-rich diet prepared using premium animal-based proteins, with its primary ingredients being turkey and chicken.

The optimal protein content offers your pooch the much-needed energy for activity, the development of lean, strong muscle mass not to mention its savory taste.

Most importantly the lean protein helps dogs to maintain a healthy weight, which is quite difficult for dogs suffering from hypothyroidism.

Apart from the protein content, this food also offers your furry friend fruits and vegetables to provide antioxidant support, and essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health.

It also comprises of probiotics that enhance healthy digestion.

Canines with hypothyroidism condition often suffer from skin allergies and other skin conditions, and the omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid components promote a healthy skin and coat.

The fatty acids are sourced from flaxseed oil and salmon oil.

Top Ingredients:

• Vitamin E: 400 IU/kg .
• Omega- 6 Fatty Acids: 3.25% .
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.50% .

How Much Food Should I Give My Dog

The amount of food you should give your dog will depend on his weight, age, and activity level. Usually, adult dogs will need to eat two meals a day. However, small breeds and those who engage in a lot of physical activities will need three meals. Just keep in mind that your dogs calorie needs will decrease as he ages.

Ideally, you want to refer to the recommendations specified on the package of the dog food you purchased.

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Nutritional Requirements Of Dog Food For Hypothyroidism

Although offering your furry friend a high-quality diet wont cure their hypothyroidism condition, it will enhance their overall health.

With a healthy body, they will be in a better position to effectively fight this health condition.

You need to offer your pooch a complete well-balanced diet. Dog food should comprise of high-quality protein to support lean muscle mass.

Remember, dogs are carnivorous animals hence their digestive system is best adapted to digest animal proteins.

A dog with hypothyroidism needs fat content in their diet to help enhance their dull coat and skin. Salmon oil and chicken fat are some great sources of healthy animal-based fats.

Although dogs do not have nutritional needs for carbohydrates, dogs with hypothyroidism require dietary fiber to support their digestive system, provide energy, and other nutrients.

Look out for easily digestible carbs such as vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes.

Dogs with hypothyroidism need vitamins and minerals in their body to help fight their condition.

• Such vitamins and minerals are better obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables as well as synthetic supplements such as glandular extract.

To enhance the functioning of their thyroid gland, you can source for specific nutrients such as iodine and also liver (a great source of iron, vitamin A, B, and folic acid.