My cat's health issues

[Koronin]

Finally, after probably 6-7 years may have a real answer to her eating issues. I took her to our new vet (we moved a couple months ago) as she is not getting better as fast as she has in the past and just wanted to check on things. Had picked up her meds from her old vet a month ago when we had gone back there to get some things out of storage to bring here. Anyway new vet did full blood panel on her (she is 13-14) years old. Of course a couple of things being off that were expected and one that is not from the meds or her not eating. Her thyroid is way off. So she has a thyroid problem and this very well could be the entire cause of everything. We never even thought of that due her not eating as typically it causes excessive eating. She does have an overactive thyroid which should cause excessive eating. Also my vet likened it to Graves disease as to why it's only at times she has the issues. So now we have two options, radioactive iodine treatment or pills. The iodine treatment truly is the better option, but we have to come up with the money for that (which we are hoping to do in the next month or two). Then she also has a bad tooth, but we can't do anything with that until we get the thyroid fixed. It is just so good to finally have a real answer.

[abejita]

My dog has thyroid issues too. He was really low, but skinny as could be despite being fed a lot...which is very atypical. He has been on thyroid pills for six years now and doing very well...although it is probably easier to give pills to a 100 lb dog than a little kitty, all I do is toss it in his food.

[indysteel]

I'm sorry your kitty isn't feeling well. I went through this with my cat, Sophie, last December. We opted for the radioactive thyroid treatment. Minus missing her for a few days and then not being able to pet her much when she came home, it was a painless procedure.

Talk to your vet, if you haven't already, about your cat's kidneys. Thyroid disease can mask kidney problems and also sort of keep them in check because of the increased blood volume that it causes. If your cat's kidneys are already failing, then pills or a transdermal application might be the better option. With careful monitoring, the vet can find a balance in treating both diseases.

Good luck with your kitty. I hope she feels better soon.

[PamNY]

I'm glad you have some answers. My mom had a cat with similar problems. She decided against the radioactive iodine treatment due to the cat's age and temperament. He continued on the medication and did very well.

Good luck with your decision and your kitty.

[Koronin]

Thanks gals for your experiences. I will talk with my vet about possible kidney issues as well.

Giving a cat a pill is not easy. What we've found is that if we get the pill to dissolve in water and then force feed it to her, she gets it, otherwise forget trying to pill her.

[bmccasland]

My Bonnie has been hanging in there with hyperthyroid disease for almost 3 years now (she's 17). I pill her twice a day, and she takes it well. I think she likes the attention.

The 4 am wake up calls, if I forget to give her a bedtime snack are rather rude. She IS hungry.

Don't let the tooth get out of control, bad teeth can cause other problems, like not eating, and a hyper-T cat needs to eat.