Should I if so what ?

[Oxo01]

Really not sure what to do now or first
My cat was diagnosed with heart murmer and thyroid issue apppx 18 months ago.

Its not been a easy ride getting her levels stable with thyroid meds and dosage being adjusted regularly
following 8 weekly blood tests although she has been fine in herself on the whole.

Considered a heart scan but put it off as the risks associated with sedation and a heart murmer also needed to get thyroid under better control.

Over the last few check ups she put on some weight but had lost a lot the last time we went.

I posted here 28/07/2025 as
she vomited a little and went off her food, then ate a little so thought she was on the mend but had a bit of loose bowles next morning.

I had a pre arranged appt on Thursday for thyroid check up so told them about sickness, they gave an anti sicknesses injection she has lost a bit more weight.

Since Friday her appetite has improved.

Vet called on Sunday with results.
Happy with Thyroid levels which I was surprised about.
Test shows low B12.

Options
Supplement B12

Have heart scan and scan stomach to see if something more sinister than IBS

Wait 2/ 3 weeks to see if she puts weight on as appiitite is improved.

They have been saying that she appears to be one of the cats that is hard manage the thyroid and that can be because its gowing or something else so a heart scan would be good option to see what's going on.

Said they can do heart and stomach scan at same time.

I'm so torn what to do now her levels are good at the moment but im scared if she dies under sedation.
Yet she has lost weight and now low B12 which are very concerning.
Help !

If she’s covered by insurance I think I would go for the scan

I agree with @BunnyRuddington - you need answers if she’s going to get the treatment she needs. Sorry you are going through this.

I appreciate that you are scared, but she's ill, and this is what the vet is recommending.

Her need for the scan is more important than your fear. It's time to be brave, for her.

I think it depends to a degree on how much distress this would cause her. Also, go back over the conversation the vet had and think hard about how he/she said things e.g. was it "we recommend this as we think we can work out what's up" as opposed to "well as a last resort we could try this". Vets have to word things very carefully as owners can react differently, my vet is quite relieved that she can be blunt with me & doesn't have to talk round a bad subject or bad news.

Thank you all
I think i was really wanting the radioactive treament eventuarly but
yes my fear of sedation for heart scan (which is reccomended to have first ) was stopping me, as she was doing good most of the time
despite levels going up/ down and if something bad happened I wouldnt forgive myself as she was doing well on the whole.

I didn't see my regular vet this time ( on holiday) but the branch manager / vet with another who knows her poping in.

Branch manager was the one that previously said via phone call with previous results that meds are not for life which I wasn't happy with the way she said it.

Saw her in person last week I told her I wasn't happy with what she had said. But i realised she is quiet blunt as i am.
She explained that she meant that if after meds still issues scans are recomended to see if anything else is occurring / wrong but we would check bloods / thyroid first which I understood better.
This then came back with the B12 issue on Sunday.

She also said she can hear the heart murmur seemed lower grade 2 but it doesnt mean its better, but heart rate was very good.

So if no sickness and B12 low I would have just carried on with meds.

I know what I have to do really
( scans) but was thinking to give B12 supplements and food for a few weeks before scans.
Im thinking am I just putting it off
( probarly yes) !

I think once they said about stomach scan it also triggered me as I had to put one of my other cats who i took off the streets (6 or so years before) to sleep in January this year which was very unexpected ( i posted on here just after) it was very upsetting and devastating so proabarly that's adding to my fear.

One positive they did say that the sedation they will use is for cats with heart issues but obviously still risks.
Oh yes forgot she has insurance so all OK .

My cats were never sedated for a heart scan. They lay on the table as good as gold. The cardiologist said she rarely had to sedate cats for them.

@Toddlerteaplease
I know that some people have said that before.
I did ask if can do without sedation as she actually stays very still at the vets and let's them take blood etc they said as it takes approx 40mins and another 30/40 on top for stomach most cats wouldn't tolerate that its a long time / ask for a cat not to move and if they did move it could muck the process up.

Both of mine did lie still for that long. And tolerated having their paws taped with electrodes. However they were both exceptionally compliant Persians. That both had multiple scans.

Mine stays still as i think she is a bit scared (shes like that at home with people coming to door etc ) but once shes checked and bloods taken and no more prods shes up looking around the room and computer. However she really didnt like temperature up her bum !
So not sure she would comply for so long.

Regarding the B12, not sure what your vet has recommended but for Tobias we use Cobalaplex, made by Protexin. Much cheaper from Amazon than it is from the vets.

Tobias's B12 was very low, so we put him on 1 a day for a few weeks then at the next blood test it was back up to normal so we've taken him down to twice a week. Bearing in mind just how suspicious Tobias usually is that I may be trying to poison him, he happily scoffs down his wet good when this has been added.

@Allergictoironing
Funny you saying that I saw it on earlier today on Amerzon so will ask vet if they can call me tomorrow.

They did t say what they would use but I was thinking even if I go for the scan route and its booked in for a week or so surley the B12 should still treated for now.

According to my vet they can't overdose on B12 as it's water soluble - they just pee out any excess. I had to check as my cats share everything & I needed to be sure it would be OK for Girlcat to consume.

So can't really see there would be any problem, especially as it's a product you can get on Amazon. By the way, B12 deficiency can be a result of digestive misfunction. In Boycat's case, he has pretty much constant diarrhoea which means he passes out too much B12, which also can cause the runs, so a vicious circle. Unfortunately it hasn't cured the belly issues, but at least he's a bit healthier!

Thanks for info Allergictoironing
This B12 is new result so I think they feel given all issues and hard to treat her thyroid and heart murmer scans are the way to go.

But I think I will ask if I can start her on B12 in meantime which was one of their options anyway.

I will have to make descion and I if i do want to get any scans, I want to get it done soon so costs come out of this year's policy as it renews in Sept I think.

Otherwise it will come out of next years which could leave amount less for rest of next year.

I'm with with pet plan, have just sent a claim form for prescription for meds, 3,100ml bottles for thyroid, vet done a direct claim related to thyroid tests and B12.

B12 will be probarly be classed as new condition so excess on that anyway.
But Petplan are very good in my experiance although bit more costly.

I found the same with PetPlan, not the cheapest but pay up without a quibble. I know vets tend to be very happy when they find out you're with certain insurers, and PetPlan is one of those they like. They just bill them directly and get paid.