Originally posted by joycenalex
knowing what i know now, the first things i would do are get a full blood workup, chemistry screen, including a FULL thyroid panel and change the diet to a preserative free, chemical free diet.
Absolutely get a blood workup. I recommend it to all my friends that get dogs from shelters. My vet charges between $50 and $80 depending on the age of the dog, but it is well worth it for piece of mind and finding possible problems that are treatable if caught early.

I am also a big believer in human grade pet food. Grocery store brands have way too much filler and preservatives.