Overactive thyroid in a cat

dirtmother

We paid for radioactive iodine therapy for one of our cats. It was brilliant - and cost a bit less than estimated as he excreted it quickly. He had a good many more years and no further problems with it.

rita-rabbit

What about scrambled eggs or raw meat - much more protein?

wornoutmumoftwo

rita-rabbit wrote: »

What about scrambled eggs or raw meat - much more protein?

Think I'll try that. Scrambled egg on toast for me and the cat.

He isn't too keen on the kitten food, but he can be fussy at times. I read somewhere that the cheap mince is good as it is fatty, but he can be quite fussy. I give him cat milk a couple of times a week as well as he enjoys that.

tankgirl1

Hiya
Sorry to hear your kitty is unwell!
Is he having regular blood tests? If his heart rate is still that high, and his symptoms so obvious, his meds may need adjusting before he is ready for surgery.
I have no experience with the iodine treatment, as I am in general practice, and it is a very specialised treatment - I hear it is very good though, but pricey.
I have seen lots of thryroidectomy's performed - I would say, unscientifically, and anecdotally, that perhaps 75% of them do great after surgery - the ofher 25% we see back with reoccurence of illness - ie weight loss, eating lots, elevated heart rate.
As for food - I'm not sure.... a high calorie diest may help, but isn't getting to the root of the problem......if things are not improving despite treatment, I would consult the vet first and foremost!

Tiddlywinks

17 years old - that's a good age but, who knows, he could have many years left in him yet........:o.

I know they're all individuals but wanted to let you know about my old girl - she had hyperthyroid and heart probs, arthritis and diabetes and lived to a grand age of 22! We had a brill vet who helped us to manage her conditions with minimal intervention and ensure she was still enjoying life (I was worried about keeping her going on for me not for her).

With the racing heart, are the tabs working? It took a good while for the vet to sort out the right mix so don't give up hope.

We used to feed our girl about 5 meals a day of ordinary cat food (jelly covered chicken being her favourite) and also got a prescription food from the vet which was high calorie / high protein which we gave her just before bed. The vet recommended that we warm it slightly in the microwave and it was very whiffy but she loved it.

I'd recommend the Hills a/d food from the vet (if they think it's suitable) as it did seem to fill her up.

My old girl looked like a bag of bones for the last three years of her life but actually still had the strength to fight the tablets every day - and the cunning to spit them out when I wasn't looking .

Looking after an oldie is worrying somtimes but you've loved him up 'til now so you will keep on doing the right thing....... because you care.

Mankysteve

At the age of 17 the stress of iodine treatment would properly be too much. Its as other said a monthish of isolation.

You got to think about when you reach a point of diminishing return. I would concentrate on stabilization and just making sure he comfortable and happy rather than causing too much stress.

Sooz00

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

I'm going to ring the vets tomorrow and ask about the operation once he's heart rate's down, (going to attempt to find out his heart rate in a minute once he's sleeping. He's just had his third sachet of food this morning).

Hi Wornoutmumoftwo,

Just wondered how you got on at the vets?

I had the test results for Tess back yesterday. T4 was 37 and HR 154. Kidney function and ultrasound all ok so she is booked in for the I131 injection on 1st November. They really wanted the heart rate to be under 150 but put 154 down to stress. I'm not sure how she'll do being away for the 3 weeks, particularly as the first week she'll isolated with minimal contact. The following 2 weeks they get a bit more contact so hopefully that will be easier.

Hope your boy is feeling a bit better and that the vet helped. As his HR was so high, did they think his medication needed to be revised? It did take us a while and changing medication to to get Tess stable so might be the same with your boy.

wornoutmumoftwo

We're just on the first week of another 3 weeks, so he'll be back in for a test in about 3 weeks. He looks a bit heavier, not so gaunt looking anyway. Tried to take his heart beat yesterday but he kept getting up/purring

I did speak to the vets, and when I'm back there they'll see if he's well enough for the op, which will be £270ish. I'm going to go for the op if he's well enough to cope with it, I've already lost one cat on the operating table (a tumour, kinder to put cat to sleep as vets couldn't do anything for him), and I do not intend to lose another one on there.

In a way, if he goes, I'd like him to go in sleep.

He's still eating, but doesn't seem as ravenous. Got him on gourmet gold now, small meals but often.

It's good to hear your Tess is getting undercontrol. Until this happened I didn't know cats could get it. My other cat went thin with his bowel tuumour and I thought Clyde had the same (thus the delay in getting him to the vets). Should have recognised the symptons really as they aren't that much different from when I'm overactive, except I go house cleaning mad when mine goes up (hubby loves that).

All the best, and I will keep you up to date.

Sooz00

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

All the best, and I will keep you up to date.

Please do, it will be nice to hear how he's doing.
I'll be a nervous wreck come November when Tess goes in _pale_

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

Until this happened I didn't know cats could get it.

I'd heard about it but I always panic about tumours too what with one of the others having had VAS. The specialist from the AHT says there's a lot of research going on as to why it is relatively common in cats, apparently there's a potential link to canned food...


Sad to hear about Clyde. I'm forever checking my boy for lumps and bumps that shouldn't be there. He had his 1st VAS in July 2005 and a recurrence last year. He had a check up with the oncologist last week and so far fingers crossed. Back again in 6 months...

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

... (hubby loves that).

Typical! :laugh:

Anyway, good look with the new meds, hopefully they'll do the trick and get your boy stable enough for the op. It's hard to now what's best but I'm sure they know we always do our best for them

wornoutmumoftwo

Clyde is going back to the Vets tomorrow, even though he still has some tablets to take. He's barely eating, and still hasn't put any weight on his back half, thought the front/middle of him has gone a little chunky. His eyes are full of sleep and his breathing looks fast.

I think he's hungry, but I think he's teeth are causing him bother, so I cooked up some chicken for him today and he's eaten that alright.
He's still eating/sleeping/toileting and came up for a cuddle today but I'm dreading tomorrow. I'm going to ask for a blood test if his heart rate is down, if it isn't, I think this will be it.