Hi,
My cat is 15 years old and is both hyperthyroid and has CRF. Up until recently, her T4 level turns out to have been lower than normal range; however, she had been holding her weight quite well. Recently I was referred to a different vet who feels that it is essential to get the T4 level higher. So we cut the dose of hyperthyroid medicine in half. The only concern I have - even though her bloodwork tested ok (actually the kidney values were quite good), is that she is losing a significant amount of weight gradually - and especially over the last 4 weeks which is when we made the dosage adjustment. Wouldn't it be better to up the thyroid medicine a bit since, despite the T4 level dropping below normal range, at least she is able to hold her weight. Previously, she certainly looked much better (with a lower T4 value) than she does now. Her coat is returning to the dull-looking state that it was before I started giving her thyroid medicine over a year ago.
I'm just really concerned about all this. It seems my vet is treating numbers and values, whereas I'm more of the mind that the animal should be treated. I've lived with this cat for over 12 years and, while I have very little knowledge of where all these values and levels should be (although I've learned alot in the past year), I think I do know something about how my cat might be feeling when I look at her.
My vet is indicating that I should continue the current dose, and that if the weight drops, so be it. And that once she cannot walk anymore due to such a low weight, then it is time to put her down. My thinking on this is..isn't it better to try a higher dose of methimazole, give her a chance to pick up some weight, and see if the coat improves?
Aren't we maybe prematurely compromising her quality of life based solely on what seems to be an obsession with maintaining a value in a predefined range?? Sure, the numbers are better following recent bloodwork, but what good does that ultimately do if the cat is going to continue to just waste away?? The vet is also suggesting that the cat simply needs to eat more. However, this cat never ate much her whole life. I just think we're heading towards the end much faster than need be.
Any thoughts? I don't want to go against doctors orders, but my gut instinct is to try and manage some things based on what I see and feel. The cat is on sub-Q fluids and K/D diet, and so I'm wondering if the kidney values aren't better basically because of that, rather than having raised the T4 a bit?
Thanks for any advice. I'm seriously thinking of upping that medicine and see what happens with overall appearance and weight. Is this the wrong thing to do??
My cat is 15 years old and is both hyperthyroid and has CRF. Up until recently, her T4 level turns out to have been lower than normal range; however, she had been holding her weight quite well. Recently I was referred to a different vet who feels that it is essential to get the T4 level higher. So we cut the dose of hyperthyroid medicine in half. The only concern I have - even though her bloodwork tested ok (actually the kidney values were quite good), is that she is losing a significant amount of weight gradually - and especially over the last 4 weeks which is when we made the dosage adjustment. Wouldn't it be better to up the thyroid medicine a bit since, despite the T4 level dropping below normal range, at least she is able to hold her weight. Previously, she certainly looked much better (with a lower T4 value) than she does now. Her coat is returning to the dull-looking state that it was before I started giving her thyroid medicine over a year ago.
I'm just really concerned about all this. It seems my vet is treating numbers and values, whereas I'm more of the mind that the animal should be treated. I've lived with this cat for over 12 years and, while I have very little knowledge of where all these values and levels should be (although I've learned alot in the past year), I think I do know something about how my cat might be feeling when I look at her.
My vet is indicating that I should continue the current dose, and that if the weight drops, so be it. And that once she cannot walk anymore due to such a low weight, then it is time to put her down. My thinking on this is..isn't it better to try a higher dose of methimazole, give her a chance to pick up some weight, and see if the coat improves?
Aren't we maybe prematurely compromising her quality of life based solely on what seems to be an obsession with maintaining a value in a predefined range?? Sure, the numbers are better following recent bloodwork, but what good does that ultimately do if the cat is going to continue to just waste away?? The vet is also suggesting that the cat simply needs to eat more. However, this cat never ate much her whole life. I just think we're heading towards the end much faster than need be.
Any thoughts? I don't want to go against doctors orders, but my gut instinct is to try and manage some things based on what I see and feel. The cat is on sub-Q fluids and K/D diet, and so I'm wondering if the kidney values aren't better basically because of that, rather than having raised the T4 a bit?
Thanks for any advice. I'm seriously thinking of upping that medicine and see what happens with overall appearance and weight. Is this the wrong thing to do??
