dog fur/skin

Question
Hello. My Australian Shephard, Ginger, who is 8 years old was diagnosed last year with low thyroid levels and is currently being treated with Levotabs. Although we had not noticed over the years, since we get her groomed for heat in Florida, when her fur started growing back once she was on Levotabs her fur was shiny and beautiful like a puppy. Then we had her shaved again and now her fur is growing back course, dry and patchy. We took her to our vet and he tested her blood levels and says they are good in regard to thyroid. Her skin gets flaky as well now. I am bathing her with a medicated shampoo which helps the skin but her fur looks horrible still and growing in clumps. She also takes omega 3 oils, brewers yeast, daily vitimin. Her diet consists of Science Diet Advanced formula light and Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul (1/2 cup of each twice per day) and all natural cookies (she gets one per day). She might have a baby carrot each day too. We watch her fook intake due to the propensity to gain weight. We are perplexed. Any ideas?  

Answer
Poor hair coat is one of the problems with hypothyroidism.  You can try switching her diet to a more natural fish-based one to see if that helps.  Verus, Flint River Ranch and Wellness make a fish and potato food that is hypoallergenic, all natural (no dyes, preservatives, colors, by-products, no corn, no soy) and excellent quality...much better than Science Diet and Chicken Soup.

Otherwise you can try supplementing her diet with more fresh veggies, raw chicken, scrambled eggs, plain yogurt, digestive enzymes and Ester C.