As I thought *Shrug* Gracie has been overmedicated for Hyperthyroid...

I just got the results for the T-4 tests we ran Saturday; did not have a chance to speak to the vet yet, so I do not have a game plan as of yet, but Kelly gave me the numbers...

I always thought she was WAY overmedicated - Her old vet, who I left and never looked back, put her on 3 (THREE!!!!!) Methimazole pills a day; at the time she was a mere 7lbs!

Because she was steadily gaining weight, which she needed, and doing well, and also because I was flat broke duet to all Bugsy's issues and her surgery, I waited until this past weekend to have the test done - of course I had discussed with the new vet waiting and as long as she was eating and doing well, she thought it would be ok to wait.

This week however, her appetite started slowing down, which is completely out of the ordinary for her. She went from being a GREAT eater to being totally finicky even with Fancy feast. When looking at the side effects of Methimazole, one of the first ones is Lack of Appetite - Bingo. Her mouth has been checked, so it is not it. She doesn't have diarrhea... She is not stressed, or lethargic... Her thyroid numbers, below, can shed a light IMO:

T-4 NG/DL Range 0.7 - 2.6 Gracie: 0.3
Free T-4 TMOL/L Range 9.0 - 33.5 Gracie: 3.9
T-4 Overall Range 0.8 - 4.7 Gracie: 0.8

Below, on the back, there was a note that said something along the lines of "Numbers below the range in cats almost always represent over-medication".

So, I will be talking to her vet on Friday, but today I will be lowering her meds a bit to 2 pills a day, instead of 3. I know I can't lower it too much at a time, but I also know I need to do something about it. Her new vet doesn't work full time at the clinic, but they are trying to get on hold of her for me.

Meanwhile I a trying to get as much food into her as I can... It is strange to see an appetite drop like this, but I am pretty sure it is due to the medication.
If I feel that she is not feeling well, seems lethargic, or has a change of behavior, I will take her to Bugsy's vet...

Well... There it is...

I know, I can't tell you how much I despise that vet... I took all my kitties from him some time ago, but unfortunately he was still treating Gracie, as she was not mine (she was my neighbor's). Gracie will be 13 this year

Ok, Just heard from my vet. Yes, she is in fact overmedicated and I am to immediately drop her medication to one pill in the morning and one pill at night. We are going to re-evaluate her in 2 weeks. According to the vet, her appetite should improve in a few days with the lower dosage, if not "push food down her throat" (I know guys, not literally!). I hope she does start eating better, because she would be one horrible kitty to force feed!

She is doing better, thanks for asking!
Friday I took her back to the vet as she was still not eating well and ti was concerning me there could be something wrong besides the medication... Aside from that, she would be an impossible cat to force-feed, and I wanted to get an appetite stimulant if all else was ok.
The vet ran a CBC and the results came back stellar - everything was perfect, not one number off range GREAT for a 12-13 yr old little lady!
Her vet examined her mouth, which is good, told me to continue to give her temptations hairball treats as a laxative since she was constipated for the last few days, and put her on an appetite stimulant. I also grabbed some cans of Hills A/D.
As soon as we got home she gobbled down some A/D - that food is really great for kitties who are off food... I don't know exactly why, but it beats Fancy Feast by much!! I gave her appetite stimulant for a couple of days just to be on the safe side, but then she became TAZ-Gracie
I had to take her off of it.
For now I am feeding her A/D and Kibbles, and she is eating well. I am also continuing the Temptations Hairball treats.
Not this Wednesday, but next she will have another T-4 test to check her levels and see if we need to lower her medication even more, or if this is ok for now.

Oh, she does need them, but not THAT much! That vet is dumb to say the least!

Yeah, gracie does need to have some new pictures taken, doesn't she? I will make sure to take some and post!

Thank you otto She is SO cute and so full of life and spunk now! She stays in the office with me, and taps my legs all day long with her little paw asking for a cuddle
She is eating like a little Tazmanian Devil - I call her Taz-Gracie , she is getting better from her arthritis too with the hyaluronic acid... She is just doing fantastic!

She is just too cute for words... I never thought that fierce, hissy thing, who wouldn't let me touch or get close to her would become such a clingy sweet heart! Every time she tap tap taps my legs just melts my heart away!

Pictures!!! http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...21#post3016921

For those of you asking me to add her to my signature... Look below!! Thanks kara_leigh for the beautiful signature!!