Dog with hi triglycerides

[Angela_Freda]

Jackie Russell is my sons ‘save’… she’s been quite a handful and came with a plethora of issues… worms, and now some other GI issue. In taking care of this last problem we’ve found through bloodwork she has high triglycerides.
She is by no means obese or even fat, but not exactly ‘active’ either.
So there’s one thing to do, get her out walking.

For reference she is about 12y.o. and 15#

Vet recommended ID diet, bit I am not a fan of high $$, rx diets. Any suggestions of other dogs food*s to look at?

In my experience as a pharma rep dealing with Cardiovascular dz and cholesterol, I know that a low fat, high fiber diet is advised for people. I figure that fish oil would benefit her, as would some Metamucil?

I figure like the diabetic cat, low carb is a better option, ie less/no grain.

{*And don’t say cook for her or raw, not going to happen, scold all you want}

[Garythesquirrel]

Has her thyroid been checked?

[Angela_Freda]

@Garythesquirrel

Has her thyroid been checked?

Not sure, would a regular geriatric/pre-surg panel include thyroid?
She has no symptoms that I’m familiar with for thyroid…

[LauraKY]

High cholesterol is pretty common with dogs that are hypothroid. It should be part of a geriatric panel, but many vets don’t do it. Weight gain and frequent infections can be other symptoms. Make sure you get the full thyroid panel, not just TSH.

[Garythesquirrel]

@LauraKY

Make sure you get the full thyroid panel, not just TSH.

^^ This

I looked at a few of my dogs’ past geriatric blood panels and the full thyroid was not included. I had one dog that had it but it was in addition to. Do you have a copy of the test results?

[Angela_Freda]

I don’t have the bloodwork yet, only got the call yesterday.
She’s had no weight gain [or loss], she really looks great, good coat, active, good energy… she goes straight to the car every time we go out, wanting to go to the park to walk.

ETA a few things she has done since we got her that are ‘odd’ to me:

She eats dirt. Like large bites of dirt. WE have clay soil and I did wonder if it was a way to deal with tummy upset? She’s not eating grass… she digs up the grass to eat the dirt underneath.
She also eats hair. When I defluff the Lab, she will gorge on the hair. If I sweep the house, she chases after and eats the hairballs.
Oh she also licks the couch, or really any fabric, but usually the couch when she’s getting ready to ‘nest’.

She is REALLY an odd duck.

Will update when I get a copy of the panel. Thanks for all your thoughts on this.