Mildred was 6 years old when she arrived to North Shore Animal League America as part of a puppy mill rescue in late March 2022. Despite her difficult start to life, she is incredibly affectionate and welcomes everyone enthusiastically. Mildred suffers from hypothyroidism which was left untreated for quite some time.
Tragically, she represents what we often see with dogs who come to us from commercial breeding facilities: animals not provided with the proper care for easily treatable medical issues. Hypothyroidism is a deficiency of thyroid hormone and the most common type of hormone imbalance in dogs. Without medication, reduced levels of thyroid hormone can lead to multiple symptoms including skin abnormalities, skin infections, and hair loss — issues that Mildred clearly exhibited when she came to us. Mildred began a simple regimen of a twice-daily pill of thyroid hormone to return her coat and skin to full health. However, she will need medications for the rest of her life.