Abnormal(?) Hyperthyroidism

Hi Weims. A Happy New Year to you too.

Your poor cat Ziggy has certainly been through it, bless her. I don't know whether anyone on here has had experience with a cat with hyperthyroidism - possibly tonib with one of her past cats. I really hope that Ziggy continues to eat, even if it is only boiled chicken. Keep us informed.

Glad that Ziggy's appetite is better.

Sadly, I lost my oldest Maine coon, Kiba-Khan, at the end of November - he would have been 16 next month, which is a very good age for a Maine Coon. All my pets are getting older, my 2 youngest are 12 in May. Bramble (16) had cystitis last month and Kai Ruki's back leg keeps giving way (arthritis). Kobi the dog has lots wrong with him and he's 13 on Saturday.

Sorry Weims , just realised you posted Ziggy is 16.

I've looked back at the blood tests, can't find T4 values for Penny she was diagnosed as hyperthyroid as the vet found a goitre on her neck. She was a nightmare to pill & already had kidney disease. So I don't think she is one to compare with.

Roman had T4 of 99 which came down to 69 after 3 weeks of felimazole but then he was diagnosed with diabetes as well & put on insulin. The diabetes was never fully stabilised over the next 2 years & as the most life threatening its treatment was prioritised. As the vet couldn't feel a goitre Roman's felimazole tablets were stopped as they could have been interfering with the insulin. 5 months later still no goitre. However another 2 months later his blood test showed high T4 so was started on Thyronorm & after another month his T4 was still high so the dosage was increased.

Eventually 2 months later a goitre was found so the vet removed the left hand side of the thyroid & stopped the Thyronorm. But a month or so later & no impact on the diabetes instability he was restarted on the Thyronorm.

He always had it direct from the syringe & loved it - always tried to get as much as he could from the syringe!

Although he had the occasional vomiting, mainly fluid/foam but sometimes food, we never needed any anti-nausea or appetite enhancing meds. He was on the equivalent of 7 100g pouches a day to keep his weight on though out the 2 years of these 2 illnesses.

Eventually it was all too much for him as it now included HCM and he was assisted to Rainbow Bridge in June 2022 aged 18.

I don't think he ever went as high as Ziggy's T4.

Has the vet suggested surgery on the thyroid or even I-131 treatment, although could be expensive.

There are a number of Feline Hyperthyroidism forums which you can join who might be able to advise further.
groups.io/g/feline-hyperthyroid
groups.io/g/FelineThyroidManagement

I hope all goes well for you & Ziggy & its just a blip.

By the way I still have some (in date) unopened Thyronorm if that's of any help.

Roman was on .75ml (3.75mg) Thyronorm before the thyroid (1/2) removal. When he was put back on it he was on 1/2 that which didn't exactly work out with the syringe markings so made it 1.75mg. It was subsequently doubled back to 3.75mg (.75ml) Sorry about the confusion of units but Norbrook changed their syringe marking.

Weims PM me your address & I'll send you the bottle I've still got.

Also worth calculating what it would cost to get it online.
I checked Animeddirect.co.uk, petdrugsonline.co.uk, vetuk.co.uk but the surprising cheapest (by quite a bit) was weldricks.co.uk a pharmacy chain in South Yorkshire (Doncaster way).

You need to find out how much your vets would charge for a 6 month written prescription (for 1 bottle repeated as many times as needed to last 6 months) So if you use 1 bottle a month then 1 bottle with 5 repeats (total 6) add on any delivery charge from weldricks (don't forget you can order multiple bottles). I had a prescription for 6 bottles each 6 months & ordered 3 bottles every 3 months. You need to make sure the vet's prescription specifies the size of bottle as there is a 30ml bottle (which both you & I used) & a 100ml bottle (which is actually slightly cheaper) but I preferred to get the 30ml but if you use more maybe asking your vet to prescribe the 100ml might be better.

In my case the vet charges £18 for a 6 month prescription which was for 6 bottles so £3 a bottle. Weldricks (at that time) charged £14.37 a bottle so £44.37 which is over there minimum for free delivery. So 14.37 + 3 = £17.37 compared to the vets charge, which I can't remember now but definitely dearer!! Out of interest I just checked their website & its now £14.89 still £4 a bottle cheaper than the other suppliers!!!

Did your vets look for kidney disease in the blood tests, if hyperthyroidism is influencing the standard tests there is an SDMA test which picks up kidney disease earlier. Not eating, nausea, excess drinking & urination are symptoms/effects of kidney disease. However arthritis can also impact as bending to eat/drink from a bowl on the floor can be painful. Osiris was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2017 but just recently his values were well in the normal range. He has ben on new arthritis meds for a while now so his last blood test his T4 was tested - fine so this month (3 months on) he's going to have the normal in-house blood tests but also SDMA.

Fingers crossed Zigy's T4 has improved.

So pleased that Ziggy is showing some improvement Weims.