Me: My mother in laws cat is wasting away. He is about 14-15 years old and was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (years ago). I looked at his labs and they only seem to be measuring his TT4 (which was very elevated). He has been on methimazole for years. Nothing in his diet seems to suggest it's actual hyperthyroidism however ("typical" cat food diet) he is very skinny and losing weight rapidly. He can't keep much down and everything has to be watered down for him. I want to help him as I know a side effect long term methimazole is hypothyroidism. I gave him 4mcg T3 the other night hoping it would help balance him out. Do you have any experience with pets and thyroid and how to approach it?
The rhetoric is that dogs are hypo and cats are hyper, I however don't believe it, as I've read your remarks on the stabilizing ability of thyroid to both conditions and the rarity of true hyperthyroidism. (Cat name) ate canned tuna most of his life and fish and chicken are the only two things he can really keep down. He drinks a lot of water, his kidney markers are off, his paws, ears and nose are cold and he's always begging for food. These all seem like hypo symptoms to me...
Thank you.
Ray: Cachexia is the effect of complete absence of thyroid, being cold and having low kidney function are signs in that direction. Thyroid, T3, is anabolic. Have you tried blending a little raw egg yolk with tuna for extra nutrients?
The rhetoric is that dogs are hypo and cats are hyper, I however don't believe it, as I've read your remarks on the stabilizing ability of thyroid to both conditions and the rarity of true hyperthyroidism. (Cat name) ate canned tuna most of his life and fish and chicken are the only two things he can really keep down. He drinks a lot of water, his kidney markers are off, his paws, ears and nose are cold and he's always begging for food. These all seem like hypo symptoms to me...
Thank you.
Ray: Cachexia is the effect of complete absence of thyroid, being cold and having low kidney function are signs in that direction. Thyroid, T3, is anabolic. Have you tried blending a little raw egg yolk with tuna for extra nutrients?