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Original poster

Other ways to treat hyperthyroidism in cats

57 replies

Adollop · 19/11/2019 20:19

Following on from my previous thread, my 11 year old siamese has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and prescribed thyronorm.

He's not reacting well to the medication, being sick a lot, still has diarrhoea, which looks pinky at times and obviously feels nauseous and unhappy. I reduced the dose, after reading that the initial dose is often too high, his thyroid count was 70, but he's the same.

I've read about prescription diet food for thyroid problems, has anyone tried that successfully?

He's not insured and I can't afford the radioactive treatment plus he couldn't be away from me and my other cat for weeks on end until he's not radioactive. I'm just not comfortable with the whole thing. Unfortunately money is an issue.

Just wondered if anyone had treated their cat with something other than Thyronorm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Adollop · 22/11/2019 18:47

He's a siamese, he hangs on me all the time, I can't imagine him being away from me for two weeks or longer. I don't think being unhappy or stressed is going to help him. But there is also the problem of money. I just can't afford £2k and can't borrow the money either , so really it's out of the question.

I'll pass that on to my vet about trying tablets, although again I think we'll have a problem with giving tablets twice a day and upsetting him and possibly ruining our relationship.

I'm not too worried about him not eating for a night or two, but him being continually sick and lethargic and withdrawn does worry me.

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 22/11/2019 19:08

The hills y/d is suitable for stabilising hyperthyroid cats on I have done several, but it is slightly slower ( usually about 6). I have three cats patients who have been on y/d for years.
Honestly hyperthyroidism is bread and butter work for small animal vets and they should be up together on all the treatments available.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 22/11/2019 19:27

My wee kitty was on the same dose and I halved it, to no success. I lost her mum and big brother to the same illness last year. It’s very sad to watch them get thinner and thinner. My other cat is like a ball of fat but he seems to be losing strength in his back legs. They’re 18 and 19 years.

Original poster
Adollop · 22/11/2019 20:28

Totally Sad I'm so sorry. This is what I worry about too.

LoneCat do you mean a result of 72.4 can be lowered with hills y/d and then maintained? My vet didn't even seem particularly aware of this food, she had to look it up on Google and then concluded it would only be of use to maintain, not to lower.

I'm astonished how clueless they all seem to be, given that it is widespread.

OP posts:
Original poster
Adollop · 22/11/2019 20:32

She'd never heard of the gel for example or the hills food. She didn't know if the operation could be carried out at her practice... Hmm I can't change practice, I've changed once and am now on the pdsa scheme.

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oohnicevase · 22/11/2019 20:40

My old cat used to have special food , he was 15 when diagnosed and the food gave him 3 years . I would never have medicated him as he would have hated it daily and an op was offf the cards due to his age . Surely you would try the food before any medication then if that didn't work try the medication ?

Original poster
Adollop · 22/11/2019 20:47

Thanks. Did you remember what his thyroid rates were before the food? Did it lower them?

I'm unsure how dangerous this thyroid problem is going to be if not treated properly. I can only go by what I've read online. I'm happy to feed him a special diet, although it'll be difficult keeping him separate from my other cat, but I'll manage it if it'll make him comfortable and well.

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igotdemons · 22/11/2019 21:14

@ADollop Oh bless him, he hasn’t had it easy has he and now to be diagnosed with this! 😕 Just so you know, the tablets are only once a day as they are slow release (the liquid, tablets and gel are all the same drug, just different concentrations etc.) although I totally understand you worrying that tableting him would damage your relationship as that’s what happened with me and my DCat! 😫 As they are slow release, you can’t even crush them up to try and hide it in their food 😔

My DCat is very clingy to me too, she is always with me and was the main reason why I didn’t want to put her forward for Radioactive Iodine too but after the disastrous time I had with the liquid and tablets, I was seriously considering it just to see her happy again, without the need to be medicated. However, if you don’t have the money, you don’t have the money and it is rather a lot to spend, especially in one go.

It is very worrying and as you rightly say, we just want them to be OK. I completely agree with you about how clueless some Vets seem to be and it is indeed astonishing. This is what I have found the most disheartening through all this - every one of them will tell you something different and they contradict themselves constantly! 🙄 It’s so hard to know what to do for the best and I can say wholeheartedly that I never want to go through this again so I won’t be getting any more animals, which breaks my heart as I love them so much 💔

Original poster
Adollop · 23/11/2019 01:32

IGot I feel the same, no more pets for me after these two.

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oohnicevase · 23/11/2019 08:14

I had toe cats when he was around and now I have 3 and one other one is now on a specula diet .. I have to feed them separately which is a pain but it's doable . I shit my boys away in the downstairs toilet to eat and she eats in the lounge .

BovaryX · 23/11/2019 12:03

Adollop, it must be so frustrating that the vet doesn’t seem particularly knowledgeable about this condition and its treatment. I completely understand what you’re saying about his anxiety and how difficult it would be for him to be away from you for any time. Mine had to be at the vet for a week with a paw injury and it was really stressful because he hated it so much. The very best of luck with the food and finding something that works for him. I really hope he starts to feel better soon

Original poster
Adollop · 23/11/2019 13:54

Thanks all.

The vet called this morning. The operation could be carried out at this practice, but she doesn't know how much it will cost. She can't find anything about the transdermal gel despite me giving her the company, but she has emailed for more information. She did however say he could have the food, it would take about 3 months to control his condition. So I'm waiting to hear about the gel before I decide. I'd try the food, but I'm worried he'll go off it and there's no other flavours. oohnice do you feed the wet or dry food?

OP posts:
oohnicevase · 23/11/2019 13:58

I used to feed both to my hyperthyroid cat , thr one now has urinary Tract issues and is only allowed wet food .
Animals eat to live so don't worry about them going off it .. also I would never subject a cat to tablets daily or an op without at least trying the food. I'm surprised this isn't the first approach .

Original poster
Adollop · 23/11/2019 15:04

Thanks oohnice ... I didn't choose it because I was unsure how effective it would be at first.

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oohnicevase · 23/11/2019 15:20

Fair enough .. I jsit feel the vet should have encouraged you to try it first rather than medicate .. it gave my lovely cat another 3 years . Good luck .

Original poster
Adollop · 23/11/2019 15:28

The vet didn't even know about it Confused

I've ordered some now so fingers crossed.

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oohnicevase · 23/11/2019 15:47

Jeez 🙈

Floralnomad · 23/11/2019 15:53

Is there a different vet at the same practice that may be a bit more knowledgeable ?

Lonecatwithkitten · 23/11/2019 16:22

She won't be able to find out about the gel till Monday as the supplier is Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Original poster
Adollop · 23/11/2019 16:43

I may ask to speak to another vet on Monday. Or I may just try him on the food first. I wonder if maybe as a pdsa customer I may have been allocated to an inexperienced vet because I don't pay as much, I don't mean that in a nasty way, we all have to start somewhere, and she was absolutely lovely and is trying hard to find everything out and has looked into everything.

From a financial point of view the food may be the cheapest way forward and also the less invasive. As stated earlier I just presumed hyperthyroidism is fairly common and easy to treat, I didn't think I'd have to make these choices. At no point did a vet tell me the medicine could cause these side effects.

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AnnaMagnani · 23/11/2019 18:24

Honestly I think you need a different vet.

Tabby cat had felimazole tablets. There were a lot of blood tests at the start getting her stabilized. My vet also knew all about the diet, surgery and other options.

If yours doesn't, it's not giving a lot of confidence is it?

Original poster
Adollop · 24/11/2019 08:49

No I don't feel very confident about it. Unfortunately I've had to subscribe to the pdsa and this is the only practice in the area on the scheme. I'll ask if there's a different vet I can see though. I'm just getting extremely stressed about it all now. I could cancel the scheme and go back to the other practice and pay full price, but they didn't give me a lot of information or alternatives either, although they did seem more knowledgeable than this vet.

I have ordered the food now anyway and will try him on that. Another reason I wasn't completely taken with the idea in the first place is the ingredients of Hills food. I've been feeding them a grain free diet, but the dry food I've just ordered seems to have no meat in it at all! Which just seems strange for a carnivore.

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longtompot · 24/11/2019 16:18

My boy is on Vidalta and has been for about 2 years now? He is now 17. It has really helped him gain weight and not be starved the whole time. He is still hungry but not quite so insistant of eating our food off our plates.
I would see if your vets practise has a vet more familiar with the condition, just so you can help your cat more. Its such a horrible disease :(

Sparklingbrook · 24/11/2019 17:00

What dose of Vidalta longtompot? Sparklingcat is on 10mg in the morning and 15mg in the evening.

I get mine from Pet Drugs Online as they are so much cheaper than the vets can do them for.

longtompot · 26/11/2019 22:55

@Sparklingbrook apologies, kept meaning to check the bottle. Hes on 15mg every evening, up from 5mg. He is also on blood pressure pills, half a night too. We get through a lot of cheese!