Forthyron

Forthyron is a veterinary medicine used to treat hypothyroidism (insufficient production of thyroid hormone, also known as an underactive thyroid) in dogs. Forthyron Flavoured tablets are only available with a prescription from your veterinarian.

The active ingredient in Forthyron

Forthyron contains levothyroxine sodium and is available in palatable tablets of 200 µg, 400 µg, and 800 µg. Levothyroxine sodium replaces the thyroid hormone that is insufficiently produced by dogs with hypothyroidism. The tablets contain a flavoring agent. Therefore, keep the tablets out of reach of animals to prevent multiple tablets from being consumed at once.

The dosage of Forthyron

The recommended starting dose of Forthyron is 10 µg/kg body weight, twice daily. The absorption and processing of this medicine may vary between dogs. Therefore, it may be necessary to adjust the dose. The starting dose and frequency of administration serve as a guideline, but the treatment should be tailored to the individual needs of the dog. The absorption of levothyroxine can be affected by food, so it is important to give the medication at the same time each day in relation to meals (for example, always with food or always just before food). Blood tests may be needed to check whether the treatment is working well.

The effect of Forthyron

After starting treatment, the lethargy—often the main symptom of an underactive thyroid—should disappear within two weeks. Any skin issues such as bald spots or thickened skin often take longer to fully heal, but most dogs recover completely within three months. It is recommended to perform blood tests (four to eight weeks after starting treatment) to determine the correct dosage of thyroid medication.

Because hypothyroidism treatment is lifelong, it is very important that the diagnosis is correct and the full picture is consistent: appropriate symptoms, a low level of thyroid hormone, an elevated TSH level, and the disappearance of symptoms during treatment. It would be a shame if your dog received lifelong thyroid medication with the associated costs unnecessarily.

Medications and supplements in addition to Forthyron Flavoured

A product with the same active ingredient as Forthyron Flavoured 200 µg is L-Thyroxine 200 µg.

Dogs with an underactive thyroid often have skin problems such as thin fur, bald spots, or dry, thickened skin. In addition to treatment with Forthyron, you can support your dog's skin with fish oil such as Doils Skin or Megaderm.

If you have a question about Forthyron or an underactive thyroid in dogs, please contact us.