I know this is a loaded issue/question, but here goes anyway. Feeby (16+ yo) has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She has weight loss, but no increase in appetite. She is more lethargic (may be old age, and she does sleep a lot), but could also be described as more vocal and a bit 'on edge' at times. No vomiting, no diarrhea, drinking/peeing as usual (always been big on both).
The vet said it is mild, so rather than drugs, he wants to try prescription food (Hill's Y/D canned food). Lots of problems in my mind about this option due to her recent pickiness about her food - not to mention the ingredients in the food. Can't imagine how I can get her to eat this food exclusively for a week, much less the next several months. She can have NOTHING else.
But, before I even talk about radioiodine (another thread, to be issued much later), can we talk about hyperthyroidism symptoms, food changes and/or meds?
My questions to you all -
1.) did any of your cats go through a food pickiness/loss of appetite that you found was related to their hyperthyroidism? If so, was it resolved through a change in diet or with methimazole?
2.) how many have ever tried the food approach, and if you did, how long did it work, and/or is it still working?
3.) how many have gone the med path (methimazole), and if you did, how did it go/is it going?
- side effects - short or long term? How quickly did you see adverse effects, what were they, and did they resolve themselves over time?
- effective ways of administering it?
- were any of you advised you could administer the meds just once daily vs. twice a day (everything I've read said every 12 hours)?
I know this thread and its questions are over-simplifying a complicated issue, but I have to start somewhere. Thanks.
The vet said it is mild, so rather than drugs, he wants to try prescription food (Hill's Y/D canned food). Lots of problems in my mind about this option due to her recent pickiness about her food - not to mention the ingredients in the food. Can't imagine how I can get her to eat this food exclusively for a week, much less the next several months. She can have NOTHING else.
But, before I even talk about radioiodine (another thread, to be issued much later), can we talk about hyperthyroidism symptoms, food changes and/or meds?
My questions to you all -
1.) did any of your cats go through a food pickiness/loss of appetite that you found was related to their hyperthyroidism? If so, was it resolved through a change in diet or with methimazole?
2.) how many have ever tried the food approach, and if you did, how long did it work, and/or is it still working?
3.) how many have gone the med path (methimazole), and if you did, how did it go/is it going?
- side effects - short or long term? How quickly did you see adverse effects, what were they, and did they resolve themselves over time?
- effective ways of administering it?
- were any of you advised you could administer the meds just once daily vs. twice a day (everything I've read said every 12 hours)?
I know this thread and its questions are over-simplifying a complicated issue, but I have to start somewhere. Thanks.