Cat with overactive Thyroid

B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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One of my cats had been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. He's been treated with Felimazole 2.5mg twice daily, but it doesn't seem to have controlled his heart rate after two weeks. He's lost a lot of weight and seems very listless at present. He was hyper; panting etc but is now spending time out of the house and has taken to lying in the bath. He is grooming constantly and briniging up spit with a small amount of hair. I've brushed him to get rid of as much dead hair as I can. The Vet has suggested another two weeks on his current medicine, but he seems to be going downhill, and I don't know if this is a good idea. The plan is to have part of his Thyroid removed, but I wonder if it should be done sooner rather than later. We have checked that he's not bringing the medicine up, which he doesn't seem to be doing. He is eating but just isn't his normal self.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Thanks in advance,

Richard

Comments

  • CassiniCassini Posts: 2,625
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    Although the vet is the expert you are a better judge of how the cat is on a day to day basis. If you think the medication is doing more harm than good then I suggest you get a second opinion from another vet or ask the vet if the dosage can be tweaked.

    If your cat is becoming more poorly, and especially if it is not eating, that in itself cannot be ignored as it will cause liver problems.

    I also suggest you keep your cat IN until it's health crisis stabilises and give it whatever it wants to eat.

    Vets can and do get things wrong.

    Mine did with my cat (my cat has different health problems and in desperation I made a decision contrary to vet advice but which I now think saved her life.)
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    Thanks, Cassini. We have decided to ground him and talk to the vet on Monday. He is eating, but I think that his elevated heartrate means that he's burning more calories than he is taking in, hence the weight loss and lethargy. I don't know if I should ask the vet to give him a high dose of glucose or something to counteract his energy deficit.

    I sat with him last night and he seem to chill out. Sleeping in the bath worries me though - it seems like he is being slightly reclusive, which isn't in his nature.
  • gonnaenodaethatgonnaenodaethat Posts: 4,184
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    PM'd you.
  • Dan SetteDan Sette Posts: 5,816
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    Our cat had the same thing, we felt at eighteen it was risky to have the thyroidectomy unless absolutely necessary. Especially as they can only do one side at a time. Removing one side can be effective, but likely as not the other compensates and has to be removed later. Talk to your vet about the long term implications.

    We had a marvellous vet who was in the "we can control it camp" rather than the "we should operate immediately camp". Although she was a realist and said we may have to risk an op. at some point.

    Our cat was originally on Felimazole (and also Fortecor for her heart)

    She was going to the vet weekly for four months with the vet "tinkering" doses to try and get the balance right. The first three months she was losing 100 grammes in weight every week and had the symptoms you have described. She looked pitifully thin and we were told that we would have to have the operation. Also she was very constipated.

    However the vet also said we should try Neomercozole which isn't allowed to be prescribed in the first instance as it has been taken off the recommended drugs list available to vets, although their had been a lot of success with it in the past.

    However as soon as the drug was changes, she immediately picked up, and started to put on weight. While never back to her tubby old self (probably a good thing) her weight is fairly stable, and only has to visit the vet quarterly (again, at her age probably no bad thing)

    The only downside - eighteen months down the line it is still amazing at the number of ways she can think of to avoid having her tablets. (although is still operation free)

    So there is hope. Don't give in too soon (but obviously talk to your vet as they DO know best). And keep an eye on your fur person. You will know what is best to do and when the time is right to do it.

    Good luck

    Dan
  • CassiniCassini Posts: 2,625
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    The sleeping in the bath thing is nothing to worry about. Even healthy cats have their fads sometimes and it's not always food related. Sometimes cats just take to a new place to sleep for a while.

    It may be that the cat is running a temperature and the bath is cooler. Or perhaps the bath area is the quietest area of the house (do you have kids running about or just other noise that would irritate an unwell animal?)

    In my experience of unwell cats I find it's best to leave them in complete peace and quiet but when you check on them make a bit of fuss of them then.

    I hope your cat feels better soon.
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    Thank you all for your guidance and suggestions - there is no substitute for experience. At least I know more about what to ask the Vet and other potential avenues rather than just going for an operation.

    I'll talk to the vet tomorrow and will let you know how he does.
  • StressMonkeyStressMonkey Posts: 13,347
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    Seems a low dose to me.

    The vet started my cat off on 5mg a day, doubling it to 10mg (5mg twice a day) then increasing to 7.5mg in the morning, 5mg in the evening which we've been on for the last year.

    One thing the treatment did was reveal chronic Renal Failure that the hyperthyroidism had been masking. So once the dosage is giving the right result in the blood test, if the cat is still loosing weight get a kidney function test done also.
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    Seems a low dose to me.

    The vet started my cat off on 5mg a day, doubling it to 10mg (5mg twice a day) then increasing to 7.5mg in the morning, 5mg in the evening which we've been on for the last year.

    One thing the treatment did was reveal chronic Renal Failure that the hyperthyroidism had been masking. So once the dosage is giving the right result in the blood test, if the cat is still loosing weight get a kidney function test done also.

    He's on 5mg at present. Renal failure is something that we are worried about though

    So how's you cat doing?
  • StressMonkeyStressMonkey Posts: 13,347
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    B3aten wrote: »
    He's on 5mg at present. Renal failure is something that we are worried about though

    So how's you cat doing?

    Sorry, thought he was on 2.5mg (I should learn to read posts properly:o)

    RB's doing fine for a 17 year old cat with hyperthyroidism and CRF:D

    On the down side he is thin & sleeps a lot. He has lost muscle in his legs and needs a foot stool to jump up to the work surface where his bowl is.

    On the plus side he is still affectionate, still plays and is very keen on his food. And still tries to catch the fish in my tank!!

    He started loosing more weight on the k/d food, so we gave up as it seemed a choice of him wasting away on the k/d or dying of CRF but eating. We feed k/d(RB's food), Arden Grange(Stripe's food), Royal Canine Persian(Layla's food) and raw beef mince and raw chicken wings. He's doing pretty well on that little lot:)

    The beef mince is good for building up an underweight cat - get the cheap, fatty stuff.
  • SeawolfSeawolf Posts: 268
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    We have a cat currently going through this.

    Currently on the 2.5mg dose, twice a day. Though did start with 2 x 5mg, the 1 x 5 mg etc.

    At the mo he is stable on the current dose, though does have to go back every 2 or 3 months for blood tests etc.

    Like Dan Sette, he has amazing ways of avoiding the tablets - which can be a complete pain in the bum.

    There is another therapy available, though seldom offered. It's a form of radiation treatment. Expensive, but the results are supposed to be wonderful. From what i remember, kittie is shipped off to a specialist center, think there is only 1 in the UK, for 4 weeks(ish), to get dosed up etc.

    It is supposed to be as effective, if not more so, than surgery, but with none of the downside of it. The cat still ha it's thyroid, but it is now working properly.
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    Just to let you all know, Jake seems to have picked up quite a bit today. He's eaten, not been sick and his tail is up, so we are thinking that he may have got a bug. The vet seems to think that the symptoms that he has been showing aren't related to the medication, so we'll see how he goes over the next coupe of days.
  • Dan SetteDan Sette Posts: 5,816
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    Ok, having a bug isn't nice for him, but at least you can have more faith in the medication.

    Please keep us posted on Jake's progress.

    (perhaps we ought to have a cat thread)
  • CassiniCassini Posts: 2,625
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    B3aten wrote: »
    Just to let you all know, Jake seems to have picked up quite a bit today. He's eaten, not been sick and his tail is up, so we are thinking that he may have got a bug. The vet seems to think that the symptoms that he has been showing aren't related to the medication, so we'll see how he goes over the next coupe of days.


    Great news.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 90
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    B3aten
    How is your cat now?
    I have been to the vet today with my 11 and a half year old cat Star, she has to have blood tests next week to see if her thyroid is working properly, she is also epileptic, has been since she was a kitten which is an added worry.
    I hope your Jake makes good progress.
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    Update - Jake had his operation last week and is doing well, the tablets he was on helped him to put some weight on and is doing really well :)
  • HAZYWOMANHAZYWOMAN Posts: 4,608
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    B3aten wrote: »
    One of my cats had been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. He's been treated with Felimazole 2.5mg twice daily, but it doesn't seem to have controlled his heart rate after two weeks. He's lost a lot of weight and seems very listless at present. He was hyper; panting etc but is now spending time out of the house and has taken to lying in the bath. He is grooming constantly and briniging up spit with a small amount of hair. I've brushed him to get rid of as much dead hair as I can. The Vet has suggested another two weeks on his current medicine, but he seems to be going downhill, and I don't know if this is a good idea. The plan is to have part of his Thyroid removed, but I wonder if it should be done sooner rather than later. We have checked that he's not bringing the medicine up, which he doesn't seem to be doing. He is eating but just isn't his normal self.

    Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

    Thanks in advance,

    Richard

    My 20 year old moggy, had his thyroid removed a year ago.
    It was a big success. He is fine now.

    I woulds go back to the vet.
  • HAZYWOMANHAZYWOMAN Posts: 4,608
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    B3aten wrote: »
    Update - Jake had his operation last week and is doing well, the tablets he was on helped him to put some weight on and is doing really well :)
    sorry missed this :o glad he is fine
  • B3atenB3aten Posts: 4,108
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    HAZYWOMAN wrote: »
    My 20 year old moggy, had his thyroid removed a year ago.
    It was a big success. He is fine now.

    I woulds go back to the vet.

    Thanks - I hope my boys last to 20 years old!
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