Need Advice for St. Louis Grandkitty!

[Kimmied]

Since my daughter won't come here and post the question (she says because she listens to her vet), I'm asking for her.

My daughter took her oldest kitty, Will, to the vet yesterday because he wasn't eating and hadn't been for almost a day.

The vet did blood work (no diabetes) and said that liver counts were a little high but really couldn't or wouldn't diagnosis until they got some weight on Will. The vet did give Will a B12 shot. He's down to 5lbs and has loss some muscle mass. I think my daughter said that the last time Will was at the vet he was 6lbs. Will is a small cat anyway but is older at 12+ years.

The vet said it could be hypothyroidism (not sure if I said that right).

Mainly, the vet wants Will to be fed anything he will eat and often to get his weight up. She wants them to do weekly weigh ins also (they have a baby scale for weighing their 4 cats already).

She suggested cooked chicken and Friskies wet food. My daughter tried the chicken with no luck. I suggested Trader Joe's cat tuna. That seems to be the only thing that he's eating but small amounts she says. She says Will is acting fine.

What else might she try to get him to eat AND get some weight on her kitty baby?

Kimmie

 

[terri1962]

I have a cat that has thyroid problems, hypothyroid as well. He gets a pill twice a day every day, Methimazole. The vet should have run a blood test to test specifically for hypothyroid.
His liver values are high because he is not eating. I would suggest she take him to another vet who knows more about this. This is very common in older cats and if not treated can cause a variety of other problems.
This is not something I would wait on as it can cause heart problems, kidney problems and so on. The blood test at my vet for hypothyroid only cost about 60.00.
You just tell them that the cat does not need basic blood work but a test to see if its hypothyroid. My cat was losing weight as well and drinking a ton of water, I thought he was diabetic as I had a diabetic cat before but he was not. The medicine my cat takes is fairly cheap only about 20.00 a month.

Terri

 

[Lynn and Radar]

Hi Kimmie

There is an Internal Medicine Veterinary Clinic in St. Louis if your daughter wants a second opinion.

Associated Veterinary Specialists
124626 Natural Bridge
St. Louis, MO 63044
(314) 739-1510

I've had many friends that have used them and been very satisfied.

Let me know if I can be of further help

Lynn and Radar (GA)

 

[Nancy & Cootie (GA)]

Hi Kimmie,
It's most likely that your daughter's vet said hyperthyroidism (not hypo) as this is common for older cats to develop. Hypothyroidism is very uncommon in cats unless they have undergone radioiodine therapy to treat hyperthyroidism. Methimazole is the medication used for hyperthyroidism. The symptoms for hyperthyroidism are very similar to diabetes, and untreated thyroid disease is very hard on their internal organs--heart, kidneys, etc.

My Cootie was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism prior to her diabetes dx. She couldn't tolerate the methimazole, so received radio iodine therapy. As a result, she's now hypothyroid & on meds for that.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Kimmied]

Thank you all. I will pass this info on to her.

Natural Bridge rd is a road off of where they live so she may know of this place or may not.

Kimmie