Hyperthyroid in elderly cat not improving

[Hyperthyroidkitty]

My 17 year old cat got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 months ago. She's on 2.5ml of thyronorm once a day as per the vets instructions. We mix this into her food.

She's had follow up blood tests (must have spent £500 so far) which said her thyroid levels were ok after a month on the meds. However this last week she's been super needy again, sick every day, drinking a lot, meowing for no reason. She tries to trip me up constantly which is not fun when youre 38 weeks pregnant.

I need to take her back to the vets don't I? I'm terrified when baby arrives it's going to push her over the edge and kill her off. I feel really sorry for her.

Have a look at the hyperthyroid cat centre - no personal experience as I don’t have cats but I know of a couple of people who have used them successfully

Thanks @Mummysgonetobed I'll have a read of their advice but I think she's too old for any ops or radiotherapy.

I think you are right to take her back. If her quality of life is really diminishing it might be worth discussing this.

If she’s being sick it may be that the amount of medication she’s consuming at once is too much for her stomach.
My elderly cat also has hyperthyroidism- it’s taken around a year to get her back to a stable level.
First the dosage wasn’t enough - then dosage increased but she was vomiting it up hence no effect. Then we tried one tablet once a day, and two the next day. Still didn’t work.
Now we do one tablet in the morning and one at night and that’s finally settled her.

So to me it sounds like she perhaps need a split dose as it seems the dose is probably too much for her. Don’t worry - just take her back and the vet should be able to discuss a plan with you.

Love to your fur baby!

@Bobbybobbins yeh I think I will. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

@asblackasyoursoul that's a really good point, she probably just needs an adjustment. I'll give the vet a call in the morning, thank you

Ours had to be seen every three months for assessment anyway.

@TheShellBeach yeh I've got to take her back in in 2 months anyway but wasn't sure if it should be sooner with how she's acting

My 16yo cat was diagnosed with this in October. She has Thyronorm, 20mg of liquid, twice a day. My vet told me to NOT put it in food but squirt it down her throat.

The dose had to be reduced but now she seems more settled. She is still sometimes sick (but she always has !) and meows for no reason. Sometimes she looks a little more scraggy, and slow then she perks up. I put that down to age.

My cat was 16yo when he was diagnosed and was on the same dosage as your cat.

We were also advised to put 2.5ml in his food twice a day. Sometimes he throws it up, we ended up changing food brand for one less likely to make him sick. Took trial and effort but we found felix as good as it looks was the one.

He's now 18yo and only just needed his meds increasing to 3.1mg.

Just to say, its fairly normal for elderly cats to get really needy. Mine drives me insane, constantly around my feet or trying to get in my lap. He ends up on more of my work Teams calls than is reasonable as he refuses to not sit on me staring at the screen.

Speak to the vet, your cat may just need an adjustment. 2 years ago we were sure we were going to lose my cat, and we are amazed he's still going strong and can hold his own against our HUGE 1yo cat. He will pin this cat down and lick him to death 😆

@crossstitchingnana oh that's interesting about not putting it in food. My vet said it was ok but I wonder if it's causing it to work less effectively. And useful to know about the meowing / scraggly look. That's exactly how I'd describe it, and it just surprised me as she seemed ok for a good month

@MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel my old gal only has 2.5 once a day, which I find odd as everything I've read says twice a day. I'll double check the dosage with the vet but the packaging definitely confirms and her bloods said it was working on that dosage. Thanks for the reassurance about the needy cat. She used to trip me up on the stairs before she was diagnosed and has since stopped, it's one thing that made me wonder if she's ok as she's started again but maybe she's just feeling extra needy. I mean a baby is a big change and she must be able to pick up on that. Oh your old boy sounds like a fantastic character. They really are the best!

Mine started on Felimazole 2.5mg in the autumn & now has 2.5mg in the morning & 1.25 in the evening. They are tablets that can't be crushed but we give them in a paste. There's also stuff you can out on their ears so talk to the vet about trying something else?

@Cookerhood oh that's good to know. Maybe I'll try alternative meds if the vet thinks it's worthwhile. Just seen the warning on the thyronorm packaging about handling in pregnancy and it's terrified me 😬

I just spoke to the vets receptionist and it was like trying to speak to the doctor... Fort Knox. The vet won't advise without seeing the cat, yada yada. I just wanted to confirm the dosage and ask about splitting in but clearly they just want to make money and put the cat through the stress of an appointment.

Same here re food - told not to put in food - so direct into his mouth (he's 16 with CKD too). Bloods showed it was too high for him so now dropped to 2.0 in agreement with vet as he had gone the opposite and it had suppressed thyroid function too much and he was hypo (cold, tired, very sleepy, off food, losing weight still). After adjustment and with appetite stimulant med he is a lot better and is also eating heaps. Next blood tests in two weeks - so time will see. Feel for you OP as it's so hard to get it right and very, very stressful.

(I'm a human doctor, not a vet, but we use a very similar drug for humans.) Call the receptionist back, tell her that you believe the vet has prescribed the wrong dose, and that you insist in talking to her, for your cat's safety.

This is the official guidance on Thyronorm. See section 4.9:

The total daily dose should be divided into two and administered morning and evening.

Either the pharmacist who dispensed the drug (if you didn't get it from the vet directly) or vet has cocked up. The vet needs to sort this.

Thanks @cuissequeury and @MissLucyEyelesbarrow I actually got a call from the vet in the end. She confirmed the dosage and that it was fine to go in her food. We've agreed on a wait and see approach and she suspects it might be partly due to her age, partly due to the fact I'm about to give birth and potentially she might needs a meds switch but she was happy to wait and then see me if I feel it's needed any time.

She said my cat has had a good innings!