Did you know that Hypothyroidism is a common illness that can affect a variety of dog breeds including Papillons? The condition is also referred to as Thyroid Hormone Deficiency and typically occurs when there is a low production and release of the T4 and T3 hormones in the dog’s thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the hormones, which are needed for your Papillon’s body to maintain a normal metabolism. When these hormones are missing, your dog may develop hypothyroidism, which can cause symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, unexplained weight gain, hair loss, excessive shedding, poor hair growth, mental dullness, skin infections, intolerance to cold, tilting of the head to one side and even seizures or infertility. The disease is believed to affect mainly medium to large breed dogs between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Contact your veterinary clinic Wake Forest, NC to learn more or pay a visit at this homepage.