Hyperthyroidism in cats

[Prudie]

Have any of you lovely cat owning ABers got one with over active thyroid? I've had a recent traumatic time with my elderly lady and this is one of the diagnoses. She's been put on 1/2 a Vidalto tablet twice a day. It's all a bit of a shock and new to me, apparently it will be for the rest of her life.

[boxtops]

Sorry to hear that, Prudie - no, but Rover was on kidney tablets for kidney failure before he ran off last year - one per day for ever. It's worth the effort, to keep the cat well. How old is your cat?

[ladybirder]

Yes Prudie, my cat Maggie, who will be 20 years old next birthday had Hyperthyroidism for the first time a couple of years ago. She had an operation and they took it out on one side and she has been a lot better. Before that she was eating and eating and getting thinner and thinner. She wouldn't take the tablets and had injections instead which did help but in the end the vet operated. She has kidney problems now a well but she's OK at the moment. It comes to most of them when they get to he age. How old is yours?

[Prudie]

She's 16. She's taking the tablets well, hidden in bits of those chew stick treats. They've also put her on a diuretic and heart tablet - Nelio and Frusemide. It's only been a week but she's seems more lethargic than usual. LB did the weight improve and how long did it take? I do have the option of having the one enlarged gland removed but the vet thinks medication would be less risky.

[ladybirder]

She was 18 when they operated on her. It was a risk but she was fine. She went down to below 2.8kg but she has been stable at 3kg now for over a year. After the op she wasn't eating much and the vet started to give her 3-monthly steroid injections but I hardly noticed any difference so we stopped them. As long as she doesn't start to lose weight again the vet is happy. She doesn't purr anymore nor does she groom anywhere except her face and her bum so I now take her to the groomers as she won't let me touch her. Hides the minute the brush comes out. Hides the minute the flea treatment comes out. I've had her since she was 4/5 weeks old when she was abandoned and you'd think she'd trust me by now:-(

[askyourgran]

My Sil has a 17 year old cat with a thyroid problem. She is being treated with tablets. Dinkie was never one to go outside she preferred to stay indoors, so it was a bit of a shock for my SIL when Dinks started to lose weight, she's pretty good at taking the tablets. I don't think they want to operate because of her age.

[ladybirder]

Mine is so much better since her op and her weight is stable now, so at her age I'm happy with that. I tempt her with big juicy prawns, chicken breast, a slice of beef, a piece of cheese, all protein which she ought to be cutting down on but it keeps her alive and she's happy.

[friedgreentomato]

My old lady was 18 and the vet gave me a choice stress her out everyday giving her the tablet or feed her extra food and frequent visits for check ups I chose the latter and the vet agreed with me ( she was a nightmare tablet swallower) she lived for a further 3 years on lovey food and passed away quickly one night I will always thank my vet for the her last stress free years

[Prudie]

Thank you all. Thank heavens she takes the pills happily hidden otherwise the stress would be too much I agree fgt. She's very feisty when rattled and bit me on both hands when the vet took her temp!