Newly diagnose hyperthyroid cat

laura mae

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My cat, Scooter, who is about 15 years old, was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.  The vet ran a blood work up for him because he had lost some weigh since his last visit. He also happened to have a snotty nose on this visit. The blood tests showed the issue with the thyroid plus a slightly elevated white blood count which the vet thought could be related to the snotty nose. So per the vet, I started him on the thyroid medication methimazole, which is 1/4 of a tiny pill, twice daily.  AND the vet gave me Baytril tabs to give Scooter, once a day which is a broad spectrum antibiotic. Both were just started on Thursday (December 31).

He usually has a hearty appetite (courtesy of the hyperthyroid I suspect) and ate fine last night after the Baytril and one dose of the methimazole, but this morning he threw up and had one episode of loose stool diarrhea. Sleeping pretty much all day. He did perk up a bit, but has no interest in food.  He'll get up and go drink water every few hours. I suspect that it is the Baytril since the amount of medication for that is significantly more than the methimazole.

It will be time for another dose of the latter here in a few minutes.  I'll contact the vet tomorrow  (since one of my other cats goes in for her vaccinations and check up) but my inclination is to not give him the Baytril tab until after I talk to them.

Does anyone else have experience with that rapid of a side effect with the methimazole after 2 doses?  I'm hoping it isn't this medication that is causing his upset tummy since the obvious implication that it's the first course of action for the thyroid issue.

He normally is chipper and heathy appetite sort of cat so definitely one or both of the medications are making him feel terrible.
 

catwoman707

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My Simone was diagnosed for hyperthyroidism also, this past April.

First off I am using the transdermal cream, which I LOVE not having to pill her.

I could gag maybe 2 doses and that would be it, all about hiding from me, so a swipe in her ear is a cinch.

My advice is secondary to your vet's of course, but I would think it's likely the baytril over the methimazole.

My experience with Simone has been like this-

She was chipper with a very healthy appetite, but also losing weight which made no sense, occasionally out of the blue had runny poop and/or a one time vomit, so off to the vet, her bloodwork showed early CKD and hyperthyroidism.

Vet put her on 0.5 mls twice a day, I very soon saw that all she did was sleep, didn't want to eat, just not good.

I called and asked if it was perhaps too high, she agreed and cut that in half, so 0.25 mls twice a day.

It took a few days but she got back to eating and feeling better, it was so obvious that this dose was good.

I had her follow up blood test done 30 days after I changed her dose and she is good all around.

I know she is still doing well because she is normal acting, eating very well which makes me think it might not be quite enough meth now, but nope, she has gained weight perfectly, so we found our happy medium.

Never want to stop the meth, you will be able to tell if the dose seems right just by how your kitty is acting, but if you do ever adjust it, know it takes a couple days for it to level out.

The baytril, for a congested nose seems a bit much, but I have no idea of the history, etc.

By not giving the baytril for a couple doses you should be able to get your answer, unless the meth dose is too high, which does cause sleeping all day and lack of appetite.
 

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My Sara had a UTI and was diagnosed with yperthyroidism at the same time. He had me start the antibiotic three days before the methimzole though just in case she got nauseous, then they'd know which one caused it. I agree it's likely the antibotic, but hard to tell with having started them at the same time. Definitely ask your vet how to handle it. Especially since it's not a good thing to stop an antibiotic mid-course.
 
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laura mae

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Thanks! Glad that Simone is doing better. I"ll ask about the ear option.
 
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laura mae

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The vet on call today suggested not giving my cat either the thyroid medication or the antibiotic for the weekend. I didn't give him either pill today. She hopes that will settle down his tummy and he'll eat. So far, nothing more than just a passing interest. I purchased some jars of simple baby food, and he took a couple of bites, but is still refusing all food. Still pretty subdued and sleeping but a bit more perky today. If he still isn't eating by Monday  I'm supposed to take him back in. If he does start eating, then on Monday, she wants me to introduce only the thyroid medication at 1/2 the dose (so only one 1/4 tab a day rather than two) to see how he tolerates it. Then to talk to the original vet about an alternative on the antibiotic.

I feel like I ruined my cat. Even though he definitely is over-producing thyroid hormone, he was happy, active, eating voraciously (a symptom of the condition) and he was interactive. It was after the first dose of medication that he declined. I actually worry that he won't make it.
 

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The vet on call today suggested not giving my cat either the thyroid medication or the antibiotic for the weekend. I didn't give him either pill today. She hopes that will settle down his tummy and he'll eat. So far, nothing more than just a passing interest. I purchased some jars of simple baby food, and he took a couple of bites, but is still refusing all food. Still pretty subdued and sleeping but a bit more perky today. If he still isn't eating by Monday  I'm supposed to take him back in. If he does start eating, then on Monday, she wants me to introduce only the thyroid medication at 1/2 the dose (so only one 1/4 tab a day rather than two) to see how he tolerates it. Then to talk to the original vet about an alternative on the antibiotic.

I feel like I ruined my cat. Even though he definitely is over-producing thyroid hormone, he was happy, active, eating voraciously (a symptom of the condition) and he was interactive. It was after the first dose of medication that he declined. I actually worry that he won't make it.
Sara was really bad when she first got diagnosed, and I had to put a LOT of work into getting her back into eating again. She had severe inappetance, and losing 10 oz was a really bad thing for her (she only weight 4 lb 14 oz to begin with at the time). After a week and a half or so of assisted feeding and appetite stimulants, she got back to eating again. And with her it really WAS a battle. She became a pro at finding hiding spots where I couldn't reach her.

Now she's a happy and mostly-healthy (she has early CKD) 7 lb cat. She loves to eat. LOVES IT. And loves her pills because it's "treat time" as far as she is concerned. Sometimes she tries to grab the pills themselves before they get put in the pill pocket!

Don't give up, and don't feel like you ruined her. It's something new and having your cat have something that requires maintenance is never fun. I would try offering as many things as you can. Human food included. Treats. Everything and anything. Has your vet offered you Hills a/d? That is supposed to be something cats absolutely love, plus is really high in calories.
 

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The vet on call today suggested not giving my cat either the thyroid medication or the antibiotic for the weekend. I didn't give him either pill today. She hopes that will settle down his tummy and he'll eat. So far, nothing more than just a passing interest. I purchased some jars of simple baby food, and he took a couple of bites, but is still refusing all food. Still pretty subdued and sleeping but a bit more perky today. If he still isn't eating by Monday  I'm supposed to take him back in. If he does start eating, then on Monday, she wants me to introduce only the thyroid medication at 1/2 the dose (so only one 1/4 tab a day rather than two) to see how he tolerates it. Then to talk to the original vet about an alternative on the antibiotic.

I feel like I ruined my cat. Even though he definitely is over-producing thyroid hormone, he was happy, active, eating voraciously (a symptom of the condition) and he was interactive. It was after the first dose of medication that he declined. I actually worry that he won't make it.
That last sentence made me feel sad for you.

Don't go overthinking this, one dose is not going to change him for good, soon enough the overactive thyroid will kick in and have him right back to chowing happily.

I do like the vet's approach, stop all, let his system clear, then take it one med at a time at a much lower dose.

I have a sneaking suspicion it may have been too high of a dose of meth.

Well, or the baytril might have disagreed with him too. Hard to say now, but you will see him better very soon.

I do recommend the ear cream too, it will be hard to cut a pill in exactly the same quarter each time.

Just this morning you crossed my mind when I was giving Simone her med, because I don't measure it out in the syringe anymore I just go by the size I squeeze out on to my finger now, and once in a while if I notice her not eating as much as usual, maybe a bit more sleepy then her norm, I will make her little cream ball just a tiny bit smaller, which I did last night and this am, and by tmrw she will be herself completely again.

She is sensitive to her med, and think I might over treat a slight now and then, but her behavior lets me know right away.

Just don't want to allow him to not eat for long, even if it's tuna and water, anything for calories, you don't want to go down that HP/fatty liver road for sure.
 
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zed xyzed

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I feel like I ruined my cat. Even though he definitely is over-producing thyroid hormone, he was happy, active, eating voraciously (a symptom of the condition) and he was interactive. It was after the first dose of medication that he declined. I actually worry that he won't make it.
I know the feeling Midi stopped eating and became so lethargic when he was on the antibiotics. I was thinking the worst, especially since he is the most food motivated animal I ever had. Hang in there, it will take a few days to recover from to meds. It really messes with their tummy
 
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laura mae

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I asked about the ear gel and the vet thought that if this is an intolerance to the medication then he'd still be intolerant of the gel. He voluntarily ate a couple of bites of people food today. A bit of bread, and a bit of bacon. He was interested so I let him. This AM I smeared some chicken baby food on his lips and he licked it off of his lips, but wasn't excited about it. Still no interest in the regular cat food.​
 

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I asked about the ear gel and the vet thought that if this is an intolerance to the medication then he'd still be intolerant of the gel. He voluntarily ate a couple of bites of people food today. A bit of bread, and a bit of bacon. He was interested so I let him. This AM I smeared some chicken baby food on his lips and he licked it off of his lips, but wasn't excited about it. Still no interest in the regular cat food.​
Thing is, you don't know for sure if it was the methimazole or the antibiotic - or were you able to already figure it out and I missed it?

Also, I would ask your vet about getting an appetite stimulant at this point. Is your kitty vomiting still?
 
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laura mae

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He got some A/D and syringes today from the vet. The goal is to feed him a can a day until he feeds himself. I had apparently misunderstood the white count and thyroid count and the vet was most interested in him having the Baytril because of the white count. I thought that was slightly elevated, it was the T4 that was slightly elevated and the white count was twice what it should be. So we are not resuming the thyroid medication for right now and just getting him to eat.


He's apparently an unusual hyperthyroid cat in that he is still 14 pounds. He's a big cat but the signal was that he was 17 pounds last year and 14 pounds this year. No intentional cat diet actually works and so they were worried enough that they went for the blood test.

I was able to feed him 1/4 of the can for dinner. He'll get another 1/4 can as a bed snack. Let me tell you, it's much easier to feed the food through a tube than in their cheek. He did great though and my shirt was only slightly messy after.  He vomited once today but the food was about an hour ago and he hasn't vomited it. No more loose stool and ironically his snotty nose is gone.
 
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laura mae

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 I​ don't know which white cell is elevated. The vet simply said his white count is high.

I gave him another 1/4 of the can tonight. All's good. He hates the process but we do brushes in between syringes. He loves the soft brush--like a massage---always been one of his favorite things. He seems to have forgiven me. I think his tummy is a bit happier with food in it. He's kept it down just fine.  He's sought out the hubby and is snoozing on the arm rest by him.

I wish that I could syringe the food as is for his benefit and mine. It would take less time to get required amount of food. The goal is one 5.5 ounce can a day. Just a week ago and that would have been easy. sigh.

 
 

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 I​ don't know which white cell is elevated. The vet simply said his white count is high.

I gave him another 1/4 of the can tonight. All's good. He hates the process but we do brushes in between syringes. He loves the soft brush--like a massage---always been one of his favorite things. He seems to have forgiven me. I think his tummy is a bit happier with food in it. He's kept it down just fine.  He's sought out the hubby and is snoozing on the arm rest by him.

I wish that I could syringe the food as is for his benefit and mine. It would take less time to get required amount of food. The goal is one 5.5 ounce can a day. Just a week ago and that would have been easy. sigh.

 
Can you please call the vet and ask the recep to look at his results and tell you which is high? They will have that on record.

It makes a difference, for example, the eosinophil cells will elevate from fleas and parasites/worms, an allergy, etc.
 
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