hyperthyroid cat continuing to drop lots of weight

Hi,

I'm really getting worried. My senior kitty recently had blood tests and the vet told me that the T4 level is now too low and that she is getting too much methimazole and I have to decrease the dosage by half. She weighed in at around 7.2 - having lost over a pound in the past few months. That was about 2 weeks ago. Now she seems to be only at 6.6 and yet doesn't appear as though she lost anymore. The recent blood tests also indicate that there are "some problems with the kidneys" although I have been away and haven't yet called them back to get the particulars. I'm so worried that this is the beginning of CRF - which they said she definitely does not have as of two visits ago. Any thoughts or advice? I think I should let them know that there has been continued weight loss even though I have decreased the dosage of methimazole.

Also...does anyone use the ear cream version of the methimazole? Does this work as well as the oral form? Some vets are saying that the ear form is as effective as the pill and some say it isn't. Mine is on the cream which is compounded in 1 ml syringes.


Thanks,
Keith

I would google the cream and see what you come up with. Go on some veterinary university sites and see if there are opinions there.

I feel for you as I had a kitty that was hard to regulate also. However, I do think you should contact your vet. Perhaps there is another thyroid med he could be taking.

for you and your kitty.

try www.veterinarypartner.com

I had good experiences with the ear cream with my cat. Much had been hyperthyroid for several years and we were able to keep in under control. It was our only option since Much could not take any pills. She had a very sensitive esophagus and would vomit all pills after about 20 minutes.

I've had 3 cats that had hyperthyroid. All of them were quite old. I didn't see how old your cat is. I had one cat go from 17 pounds to 7 pounds. I waited way too long with him. The pills made him vomit violently. At the time they didn't have the ear cream. This was in the mid 80's. The news wasn't good with any of my cats, but they just didn't do well with the medication. Just listen to the vet and research.....you'll get some answers.

Beth just made me aware that I did not list Jasmine's age...she is soon to be 15. The hyperthyroid issue seems to be relatively under control, but the CRF is obviously what concerns me more. I've posted about this under a different thread.

Thanks so much, Beth, for the reply. I really appreciate it.

Keith