Hroswitha
Member Since 2011
Yemala, 13 years old, diagnosed in 2006. She moved to OTJ status within a month of initial diagnosis, with a relapse in 2011. We massaged her back into remission within a month once again, and her BG readings have been stable and in the green ever since.
Her energy levels are high, her coat and eyes are shiny, she's alert, she plays, enjoys her life, and typically has a very good appetite, but in the last six months, she's lost a tremendous amount of weight. She was never that large, either. Now, as I run my hand across her body or under her chin, every knob and bone stands out.
Some mornings, she lacks an appetite, but I see her eating later and she doesn't manifest hunger symptoms. She's often a little nauseous, and I have started giving her laxative before I go to bed. This keeps her from the "hungry pukes" early in the AM, and she seems to be more interested in breakfast more consistently.
In 2006, Mala manifested a sub-cutaneous lipoma along her side. It's soft and squishy, not hard, the temperature is the same as the rest of her body, she shows no signs of discomfort when it's touched or pressed, and it has not grown. In fact, it seems currently a little smaller. Her vet looked at it, and did not recommend removal as it would grow back and surgery would stress her system unnecessarily.
Mala has a sister with us, Erzuli, and she is also extremely thin. Zuli gets extra protein at night - a dish of tuna or chicken or fish - to keep her weight up. We believe her's is a thyroid problem.
I'm concerned that Mala has developed hypothyroid as well. Given the symptoms I've described, can anyone give me some basic ideas on what to do from here? Taking Mala to the vet is difficult and stressful - her BGs are likely to spike afterward and, given her age, I fear that getting her OTJ will be harder now. She's not frail, unless she's in the vet's office, but if we must then we must.
Recommendations?
Her energy levels are high, her coat and eyes are shiny, she's alert, she plays, enjoys her life, and typically has a very good appetite, but in the last six months, she's lost a tremendous amount of weight. She was never that large, either. Now, as I run my hand across her body or under her chin, every knob and bone stands out.
Some mornings, she lacks an appetite, but I see her eating later and she doesn't manifest hunger symptoms. She's often a little nauseous, and I have started giving her laxative before I go to bed. This keeps her from the "hungry pukes" early in the AM, and she seems to be more interested in breakfast more consistently.
In 2006, Mala manifested a sub-cutaneous lipoma along her side. It's soft and squishy, not hard, the temperature is the same as the rest of her body, she shows no signs of discomfort when it's touched or pressed, and it has not grown. In fact, it seems currently a little smaller. Her vet looked at it, and did not recommend removal as it would grow back and surgery would stress her system unnecessarily.
Mala has a sister with us, Erzuli, and she is also extremely thin. Zuli gets extra protein at night - a dish of tuna or chicken or fish - to keep her weight up. We believe her's is a thyroid problem.
I'm concerned that Mala has developed hypothyroid as well. Given the symptoms I've described, can anyone give me some basic ideas on what to do from here? Taking Mala to the vet is difficult and stressful - her BGs are likely to spike afterward and, given her age, I fear that getting her OTJ will be harder now. She's not frail, unless she's in the vet's office, but if we must then we must.
Recommendations?
