Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Date: 1/2/08 4:47 PM
Subject: advice needed [edit/delete]
To: Pet Loss | advice needed
im asking for advice on a sick animal i have as i dont know what to do for the best.I have a cat of nearly 17 she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 8 months ago after going from 4kg to 2.75.she is on medication but is still so hungry like shes starving her days are spent begging for food she rarely sleeps,i have to monitor how much food i give her as a couple of times a week she is violently sick everywhere,she often gets diarrhoea where she will go 6 times a day,her weight is now 2.4 kg shes so skinny.I take her vets they give me medication for sickness,diarrhoea which is ok for a bit then it comes back,they told me to increase the thyroid medication as these are still symptoms of that when i do she vomits more,the vet says she is in no pain but life just doesnt seem fun for her,my heart is breaking im in tears everyday and i just dont know whether to let her go,please any advice greatfully recived,lorraine xxx

Hi Lorraine,

I am so sorry for what you and your kitty are going through. Hyperthyroidism is common in older cats but it can be tricky to find the right dose of methimazole, especially if bloodwork has not been repeated.

Ideally, you should have your cat's thyroid levels tested again. That will give the vet an idea how well the medication is working and if the dose needs to be adjusted. Both vomiting and diarrhea are possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism, as you have been told. Still, it is best to not adjust medication without bloodwork as a guide.

Methimazole should always be given with food, as it can be very hard on the stomach. But some cats cannot tolerate the medication at all and experience loss of appetite and nausea, sometimes even a bad skin rash. Your vet may not have told you that there is also the option of using a transdermal gel form of the drug, which is helpful for cats that get sick on it. This form is a bit more expensive and doesn't work quite as well, but for some cats it is the best you can do. It would have to be ordered from a special pharmacy.

Hope this info is helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Your cat is still showing signs of hyperthyroidism, so she needs a higher dose of methimazole. If she can't handle a higher dose, and some can't take methimazole at all, speak to your vet about giving your cat a lithium salt. I use a lithium carbonate suspension, starting at 30mg twice a day. Also, give the cat as much food as she wants, including lots of fat such as butter or drippings, as she is burning up calories faster than she is taking them in, leading to weight loss.