Anyone have a hyperthyroid cat?

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:19 am

As if a massive renovation and preparing for a move next week weren't enough, I finally took our 2 cats to the vet for overdue check-ups (since we plan to let them go outside again when we move back into our house). We knew our 14 yr old, Maurice, was losing weight, but he seems happy overall. Well, he's been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and renal compromise (also some vision compromise). His thyroid levels were 8 when 4 is considered the upper limits of normal. His kidney function was borderline, but his urine was too dilute to know for sure how bad the damage is. We have to start him on Methimazole 2xday, and possily switch to a totally unappetizing kidney health diet. I saw a bag at the vet - corn, corn gluten, chicken flavor, yuck!! It's low protein, low potassium, low sodium, etc.

Side effects of the drug are anorexia and vomiting (all over the new house). How can low protein food, no appetite and vomiting stop his weight loss and keep him happy??

Is this a somewhat terminal diagnosis for a cat this age? Are we only buying time but the inevitable will soon occur? He also has cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), which he was able to stop taking meds for a few years ago (Atenolol). Of course the racing heart and higher BP of hyperthyroidism means all the heart-related risks are back too. He could throw a clot that paralyzes his hind quarters, and that's it.

I'm sad for Maurice. He seems happy to just sleep all day and enjoy our company. I almost feel like nature should take it's course instead of making his last year(s), months(?) miserable.

I have one friend who went through this with her cat. She finally put her down when she reached 8 lbs and couldn't keep any food down. Her vet thought her cat may also have cancer, so we don't know if our cat will fare the same.

Anyone have experience with this?

Here he is at the vet, my sweet boy:

http://flic.kr/p/9Wr76j

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:24 am

Hi Z,

Thyroid problems are common in cats, I think. My previous cat was diagnosed with it and was on medication for at least 5 years. She did fine! Of course, the biggest problem was getting it in her. We finally learned to coat the pill with cream cheese, and then she would eat it. Her nickname became "Creamy". I don't recall any kidney failure until the very end, though. Maybe an in-between solution would be to give him the pills (to minimze the stress on the cardiovascular system) but let him eat his usual diet. It's important to have some quality of life, I guess. Plus, I kinda feel like you do -how could those ingredients (especially grains) be healthful, when they are not in the usual diet of cats?

Maurice is beautiful!!!

Polly xoxo

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:01 pm

Science Diet by any chance?

http://www.traciehotchner.com/blog/1050 ... m=facebook

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:07 pm

Yup, Science Diet. I'd yell "It's dog food!" but it's not even suitable for dogs!!

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:43 pm

Doctor Karen Becker
Be careful in choosing what you feed your cats. The feline body doesn’t produce the enzymes required to digest carbohydrates.

40 minutes ago via HootSuite ·

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:43 pm

We recently adopted a rescue golden retriever, and the food guide they gave us gives Hill's Science Diet a grade of F (same for Alpo, Beneful, Eukanuba, Iams proactive prescription diet, Kibbles and Bits, Pedigree and Purina chows). We are feeding Orijen (adult), a Canadian dog food with an A+ rating. It is the most popular dog food at our local Pet Depot. I guess folks are beginning to wise up and realize that dogs just don't need to be eating any grains.

I wonder if there is a similar list for cat foods. There are about 70 foods rated on the dog list.

Polly

TXBrenda · Post by **TXBrenda** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:14 pm

I feed my four legged girls Life's Abundance cat food. I is expensive, but a six # bag lasts 2 15 # cats for 2-3 months. One is over weight for her frame but I refuse to feed them separately (such a hassle)! The other one is not over weight. She is just a very strong & long cat. I would like to know if this brand is on that list because they sell dog food also.

Hope you find something for your baby!

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:29 pm

Are you talking about the Sarah Irick list for grading dog food?www.naperdoodles.com/dogfood.htm

The owners of our boarding kennel gave me that list. They have Bouviers des Flanders and Black Russian show dogs. (One of them can jump straight up in the air and really high. It is the funniest thing ever. That dog needs to go on stupid pet tricks.)

I previously found this link which tells some concerns with it.
www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=grading_kibble

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:50 am

Z,

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. We're feeding a food called Honest Kitchen (dehydrated powder that you mix with water) - one of our cats had weird skin issues our vet Dx'd as fleas, but since no one else had bites... I correctly diagnosed the food sensitivities, long before I had a clue about my own ;) The composition is noticeably different from the dog food we feed from the same brand. We also feed an inexpensive supermarket generic canned sardine food, which has better ingredients than many reputable brands. The cats will also eat the dog's food - a frozen/raw patty you thaw the night before, from Nature's Variety. (Not if the dog is anywhere in sight, of course.) You could add small amounts (of whatever food you think best, and find nearby), rather than changing out the diet overnight - which could lead to a hunger strike in our cats, and that would be a bad idea for Maurice.

We lost a cat to thyroid problems about 15 years ago - he went from slightly underweight to gravely ill virtually overnight, and I was wracked with guilt about it for some time. (Our vet's theory was that he went out like a gentleman, not having wanted to trouble us sooner.) More recently, our senior chief-cat-in-charge, the late-great Koszkat, had chronic renal failure. Having watched friends put 2 ancient cats and an ailing dog through a giant medical routine, we were reluctant to start down that path. BUT - we gave her subQ fluids, and it was wonderful. Easier than we feared, and a clear win in terms of quality of life. We were supposed to do it 2x/day, but didn't.

It was easier than MC to deal with ;)

BTW, practically the first thing I saw on the map when we landed at CDG was Courbevoie - I said, "Zizzle was born there!" And my husband said, "Who's Zizzle?" So I said, "Well, her name isn't Zizzle..." and he said... "How do you know her?" And I replied, "Well, I don't really 'know' her..." I think he attributed the whole thing to jetlag.

Wishing you all the best - and no stress - through the move and the cat-care process.

Love,
Sara

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:52 am

p.s. He's beautiful.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:29 am

sarkin wrote: BTW, practically the first thing I saw on the map when we landed at CDG was Courbevoie - I said, "Zizzle was born there!" And my husband said, "Who's Zizzle?" So I said, "Well, her name isn't Zizzle..." and he said... "How do you know her?" And I replied, "Well, I don't really 'know' her..." I think he attributed the whole thing to jetlag.

LOL.

Maurice had his BP and heartrate checked this weekend before starting the meds (which I still haven't started, aargh!). They were surprisingly normal, so I wonder if living with his long-time cardiomyopathy has made him adapt/downregulate his heart rate, etc. Just wishing... Hopefully it's a sign that kidney function will be OK after the thyroid meds start working, but he sure drinks a ton of water! (and tested negative for diabetes).

I read somewhere that cats eating canned food have a 3x higher risk of thyroid disease. BPA in the can lining perhaps?? I always thought canned food was the healthier choice. If only he'd eat table scraps, I'd make him food, but he won't go near freshly prepared meats. Dumb cat!

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:08 pm

Z,

That's funny - your Maurice is a virtual twin of my late Gus (I showed my husband his picture and he thought I had somehow found an old photo of Gus and scanned it in). Gus had diabetes for quite a while, but it turned out to be transient and went away... funny. I figured it out from the extreme drinking (the third time he pulled my glass of water down on my head in the middle of the night). I always blamed my obedience to the yearly vaccine regimen for his thyroid problem, but I don't think they recommend those any more.

I hope the thyroid meds do your feline eminence grise a world of good.

BuggityBoo · Post by **BuggityBoo** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:24 pm

"Greenies" pill pockets are the best thing I've found for giving pills to cats or dogs. I had a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. She lived 15yrs, but required meds. Funny thing is that as I find out more about MC I wonder if her issues were food related too.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:42 pm

Bug,

I know a poodle with MC who was treated with Entocort and is doing much better with all grain removed from her diet.

Polly

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Anyone have a hyperthyroid cat?

Anyone have a hyperthyroid cat?

timely Facebook post from Dr. Becker (Mercola)

Polly

Pill pockets