cat overactive thyroid

[honky-tonk]

my 15 year old cat has been diagnosed with this and will be on medication twice a day will this make him put his weight back on as he is so thin at the moment would appreciate if anyone replies who has a cat with the same problems
thanks

[lizzydrippin]

I take it that the vet has gone for the medication option because of your cat being 15 yrs old and it would be abit risky at that age to put him through what would be a fairly major operation removing his thyroid gland. Our cat had her's removed and it did make quite a difference to her quality of life and I should imagine the medication will have the same effect as the operation so Im sure he will put his weight back on. Hope he recovers well anyway.

[bensmum]

Both of my older cats had this problem. Sadly one of them died last year of an unrelated illness but the other was on tablets then last year when she was 16 she had the operation and she was fine. Vets like to stabilise the condition before considering surgery and would take the general health of the cat into consideration. Having said that I know of cats who have been on the tablets long term and they seem to get along very well. It depends on how your cat takes to the medication - mine had the op because she hates tablets! I hope your moggy is soon better.

[honky-tonk]

thanks for the answers......he seems to be slightly improving after only 3 days but it is a struggle giving him the tablets seems to stress him even more

[lizzydrippin]

Is it not an option to hide the tablets in his food honky-tonk? none of my cats will tolerate having tablets shuvved down their throats (no matter how many times I tell them its for their own good) Im still experimenting on whats the best food to hide them in, I suppose its finding the one thing that the cat just cant resist. (not that it will be the same thing two days in a row!) Someone on here says that chicken paste works a treat with her cat and Im about to try it in the morning with one of my own whose about to start a course of anti-biotics.

[phylkat]

Our cat has 'Hyperthyroidism' the name of this complaint, she is nearly 20 years old & takes 2 tabs a day these tabs are expensive 40p per tablet, She's too old for the op, & she's been on the tabs for 2 years. In the end the op works out cheaper. They are keeping her alive & she's precious to us but being OAPs we find it a struggle.

pk

[honky-tonk]

lizzydrippen i have one of those buster pill givers from the vets so its not so bad now as he is getting used to it i just wrap him up in a towel and zap the pills down his throat but its awfull having to do it not to sure if the medication is working as he is on antibiotics also maybe they are making him sleepy but he isnt himself.
phylkat yes its very exspensive as its not just the tablets but the blood tests that follow. not to sure how much the operation costs but in the long run it could be a cheaper option even though the vet has not mentioned it we have to take him back in 3 weeks for more blood tests