Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: jezebel on April 01, 2018, 13:07:33 PM
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Less than a year after an op to remove her thyroid gland - which worked well - Bass has developed hyperthyroidism in the remaining gland. She now faces another op next week which I'm quite worried about. She's a tough little thing but she's 17 now and has a heart murmur. And of course the risk of damaging the parathyroid glands is higher, which is a whole other nightmare.
Unfortunately, she can't tolerate the tablets (they made her so lethargic last time I thought she was dying) so the only option is surgery. (I know some people will think this is my fault for not opting for the radioactive iodine treatment last year, but her levels were - and still are - too low to be considered for this.)
She's eating well and fortunately her weight is stable - although she never put it back on after last time so she's quite thin. The worst symptom is howling. Unless she's asleep or sitting next to me on the sofa, she's howling for England - at all hours of the night too. At the moment we feel like a couple of sleep-deprived new parents. :tired:
So, just wanted to share because I know lots of you have been through this, and it was really comforting to come on here last time and babble a bit.
Any tips on managing the howling would be greatly appreciated!
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I'm sure no one will judge you one way or the other :hug: :hug: We can only do what we consider best for our cats and each of us is best placed to decide on treatment with guidance from our vet.
Have you tried the treatment on the ear? I've come across a couple of people who've tried this. Seems much more common than it used to be. Sounds like the tablets last year might have been too high a dose and maybe sent her Hypo? If it were me, I would be comparing blood test results with those last year as it might be that tablets could still be the way forward if her levels are higher.
Are you quite sure the howling is related to the HyperT and not say deafness?
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Thanks Rosella.
Bass has a large lump on her thyroid gland, and she's had two blood tests - one to check her levels and one to confirm it's definitely hyperT (can't remember what they were called).
The howling's got worse over the last few weeks. She used to howl after she ate but now it's nearly all the time - she was even howling while she was eating today.
Also, she's not hyperactive - but the vet said (and I read it somewhere too) that it can make some cats lethargic and restless. This might explain why tablets made her worse.
I'll ask the vet about the ear treatment. The vet didn't mention it so maybe it's not widely available yet.
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Let me know if the vet is unsure about the ear treatment, my neighbour used it and remembers the company who made it, fingers crossed for her
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No experience of it so no advice, just very best wishes for you all. :Luv: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
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I used the ear gel on my old Tabby last year (RIP aged 22). She was on Felimazole for years but in the last few months her kidneys were very bad and she didnt eat much so we used the gel. It was easy to use just had to wipe the ear clean first of all and do alternate ears daily. :)
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Jezebel, no one will judge you. It's not always a straightforward decision and there are variables to be taken into account. I wish the ear gel had been around when we had Paddy. :hug: :hug: sending much love for Bass xxxx
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Thanks everyone.
Just read up on the ear gel and it contains the same ingredient as the tablets, so would have the same side effects.
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I don't think it does due to the way it is absorbed - my neighbours cat was violently sick after 2 days of either Felimazole or Vidalta, but never reacted to the gel
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Hello - sorry to hear about on going issues. I was wondering why Bass was and is too low for radioactive iodine treatment? If cats are very low are they unable to have this procedure ? I had thought it was the gold standard treatment but the more I read it seems it is not suitable for all.
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There's a minimum level (90 I think), before a cat can be considered for radio iodine treatment. I really don't want to wait until Bass reaches it because of her heart murmur.
I checked with the vet but the ear gel isn't suitable for cats who've reacted badly to the tablets.
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Has she had Vitalda and Felimezole - we have had a mixture on both tablets with good results, Max became allergic to Vitalda and then got his thyroid removed but sadly a bit grew back and he ended his life at 17 on Felimezole which is gentler on the system and comes in much lower doses
Iodine hasn't been suitable for any of my 5 due to being feral or terrified of humans and being away from home so we have worked with what we could on their terms
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She was on vitalda before. The vet spoke to the manufacturer of the other one, and they said that they work in the same way so if a cat has side effects on one, then they'll get the same on the other.
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Have to Max was better on Felimizole and the tablets are smaller than Vitalda although Vitalda is easier to cut in a pill cutter
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Pillcutter is a great idea - are you able to link to one of these please?
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we got ours from a chemist fairy, looks a bit like this
https://www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/household-aids/medication-management/tablet-splitter-cutter?fee=19&fep=40051&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkpfWBRDZARIsAAfeXapHtGQnuLq9b5kJbw1fA_VuSrMkHxZnEYUZVzKnLHqQvRfB9hohQ98aAv1FEALw_wcB
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Just about to take Bass to the vet. The worst thing at the moment is she hasn't been allowed food since 10pm last night. I hate not being able to explain it to her.
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Good wishes for today. You are doing your best for her do not feel guilty x
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All the best for today :hug:
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Well, the op went well and Bass seemed to get over it quickly, although it hasn't stopped the howling and vocalisation.
Then on Saturday evening she got very lethargic and didn't want to move. When she did move, she kept walking round in circles and seemed unsteady on her back legs. Took her to the vet yesterday (because it was Sunday, we had to go to a different branch and see a different vet), and they ran a blood test at the surgery which didn't show anything abnormal. The vet thought the circling could be due to an ear infection, and gave Bass an AB injection and a nine-day course of steroids.
She seemed to perk up afterwards but became lethargic again later and just wanted to sleep.
She was a little brighter this morning but I'm really worried about her. This walking in circles is bizarre (she either goes round on the spot or does laps around the coffee table :Crazy: ) and the lethargy is quite frightening to watch.
While I was typing this, our usual vet phoned to catch up. She said if the steroids and AB don't help, it could be something neurological - which I don't even want to think about.
Bass is a tough little cookie but she's been through a lot lately (blood tests, surgery, several trips to the vets including an overnight), perhaps it's all just catching up with her. I'm hoping it's just her immune system responding to all the stress and that's where the ear infection has come from.
(Oops, sorry for the long post - thanks for reading.)
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I'm really sorry to hear that, there is nothing once than seeing them so ill, hope the abs kick in soon - what are the steroids for appetite?
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Yes, to get her eating and drinking again (I think they're working).
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Am sitting in a railway station thinking of you and Bass. I can only begin to imagine how much of a toll this is taking but sending you much love and soothing vibes for Bass xxx. :hug:
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Thanks Sue, that means a lot.
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Poor thing, do hope that it is something as simple as an ear infection, which could make her lethargic.
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Glad the op went well and fingers crossed it is an ear infection that is making her circle :Luv:
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Very much hoping that Bass is a very great deal better today :hug: :hug: :hug:
I've been googling.... won't got into any detail as I'm no vet as you know .... but just wondering if Bass's pupils are both same size?
If by any chance they are not, I suggest you mention to your vet. The walking around in circles would concern me too :hug: :hug: Passing on a kiss to pass on to beautiful Bass :Luv:
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I don't think there's a difference in her pupil sizes - I will check later but I'm sure I would have noticed it.
Anyway, she's much better today, still howling (howled most of the night too :tired: ) but the lethargy has gone and she looks brighter. Possibly it's the steroids - if so, I'd like some. :)
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Glad she seems brighter
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So pleased she is much better today :wow: :wow:
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SO HOPE THAT BASS IS GETTING BETTER, COS I RECOGNIZE ALL THE THINGS SHE HAS BEEN DOING. SENDING ALL MY LOVE AND GOODWISHES
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Thank you Misa. :hug:
Sadly Bass has relapsed a bit. She's lethargic again, and when she does manage to move she's still walking in circles. It's quite pitiful.
Took her back to the vet on Tuesday for some blood and urine tests (which she was due to have anyway). So far they've had all the blood test results and some of the urine results but neither has shown anything much. Her urine has a slightly high white blood count, but the vet said the rest of the results (hopefully tomorrow) would confirm whether she has an infection or not.
Vet is now saying she should have a CT scan, which will show (but hopefully rule out) anything nasty like a tumour. I've had a CT scan myself, but I don't know how they scan an animal - presumably Bass will have to be anaesthetised for it. I don't want to put her through any more but equally, can't leave her the way she is.
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Poor Bass – Lucy had to have a CT scan last year, she did have to be anaesthetised for it and we had to go to a specialist vet and she had to spend the day there, although my vet does use a mobile clinic which goes to their car park, but we’d have had to wait longer for that. It cost around £1.2k.
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We were quoted £1300 - thanks goodness for insurance!