Frazzled Owner/Mom

[Momof3boys1965]

Ok....first time doing this so bear with me.

Sam is a 14 year old male that has been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism.

I cannot get him to eat the y/d wet food. He will eat the dried food but in very small amounts. He then follows me around while his stomach growls at an alarming pitch. His vet told me not to feed him a single morsel of anything else but the y/d.

This poor baby is so miserable and is losing weight because he will only eat small amounts of the dry food. He takes 2.5mg of Methimazole daily (which is a task that sometimes needs the help of SWAT's most elite members!!)

Any advice???

[IMstacie]

My older cat is on Thyroid pills and would also "not" eat the Y/D well.  He did better when I mixed the wet food with regular food but eventually I just stopped the Y/D about 4 months ago and is feeding him regular wet & dry.  He still takes the pills every day but his levels are good and he is at a healthy weight.  Good luck.

[CML2014]

So How is Sam?? My cat just got diagnosed with HyperT also.
Please keep us up to date,K?
CML

[Momof3boys1965]

Thank you for the information. I am extremely grateful for your input. I've had him since he was 6 weeks old and we've been through a lot together!!

Thanks

[zodiacqueen]

Please, keep us updated.  We care about the kitties.  =)

[zodiacqueen]

Not all cats can deal with that Y/D diet.  Since your cat won't eat it, I'd give him his regular food.  To me, it's more important that he eats so that he can stay healthy.  If he were mine, that's what I'd do.  Then, I'd put him on the thyroid lowering drugs-mentioned by CML or the radioactive iodine treatment.  If money is not an issue, the radioactive treatment is the way to go.  I've personally seen some horrible side effects to the methimazole.  Especially, be wary of the vet starting him off at a high dose.  My mom's cat was started at a high dose and his white blood cell count dropped dangerously low and he looked like he was dying.  He was just laying there barely moving-very very lethargic.  We didn't think he'd make it.  He did, of course, after we dropped that dose.

[Momof3boys1965]

Thank you for the information.
I will give the vet a call. He was pretty adamant about sticking with the y/d, almost to the point of making it seem like there were no other choices but to put him down. Honestly, the y/d wet food doesn't look appetizing at all!!

I wonder if I could mix it with something else?

[CML2014]

LOL!!!! I have to give my cat Hills Z/D diet due to IBS and I know how bad this stuff can be. Not that I eat it but it is like thick Pudding and it is very expensive. The large bag of z/d is $67.00.
What we do for our babies, HUH!
ZQ has given you good reasons to try the radioactive iodine treatment if you can afford it
If not try the transdermal patch and some yummy food.
As she said so many side effects to the azole drugs and 2.5 mg is a very high dose to start out.
Good luck and we are with you all the way. These babies of ours are like our children. Gotta love them, I think they give us less problems then our human children.
let us know what happens, if you would.
cml

[CML2014]

Hi Momo,
Methimazole and carbimazole are the 2 most common drugs indicated for Hyperthyroidism. Methimazole will caus (in some cats) loss of appetite. Ask you vet for a more palpable food choice. That might help. Also Methimazole is available in a transdermal patch placed on the ear of your cat. Ask him about this possibility.
Finally there is a radioactive iodine shot that can be given once at a cost of $500 (depending on where you live) that supposedly cures it, but there is a 10 day quarantine for most states with this treatment--it is radioactive after all.

So there you have it maybe one of these ideas will work for you. Please let us know what is working. That is how we learn and help others.

Good Luck,
CML