Hyper-thyroid Levels in my cat?

Question

My cat had thyroid level of 17. 5 is considered too high and should be at 2. The vet put him on medicine of 5mg twice a day. His levels were 17 and dropped to 5 in one month. She wants me to increase my cat’s medicine to 7.5 mg twice a day and see him in a month. I am happy my cat’s thyroid dropped, but can it drop too low? If I do logic math, it seems like in 4 weeks with increase medication he will be too low. What do you think?

Thank you

Answer 1

Yes it is possible for it to dip too low, which is exactly why your vet wants to keep checking that level and adjusting the medication until his thyroid hormone is in the normal range. It doesn't just keep dropping lower and lower as you give the medication, because the body is producing new thyroid hormone all the time. After 4 weeks on the medication, the level of thyroid hormone in the blood has stabilized, so that's why they wait 4 weeks to redo the test. His thyroid level is much better, but it's still above the normal range, so increasing his dosage is appropriate. It's more dangerous for your thyroid levels to be too high than for them to be too low. In fact, you can "cure" a hyperthyroid cat with radiation therapy that essentially kills off the thyroid gland, so that they produce no thyroid hormone at all. Then you give them thyroid hormone tablets to make the thyroid levels normal. It's not commonly done, though...and your cat needs to stay at a special facility for the treatment, very expensive because the cats are radioactive during treatment.

Answer 2

It's normal to start the cat out on a small dose and then increase the dosage gradually. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I am sure the vet knows what they are doing. I am glad your cat is responding to the medication. I had a cat last year with thyroid problems and he died at the age of 16. I am still deeply saddened by this. Hyperthyroidism can be a very serious condition in a cat and it's important to give the medicine regularly. The vet will check the thyroid levels when you go back. Here is a site that offers more information on the condition. If I were you and was very concerned about this I would call and voice my concerns to the vet. Good luck with your cat.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=218

Answer 3

If it was in normal range then the methimazole didn't bring it too low. Were there signs before diagnosis? loosing weight? There are other ways to treat hyper-t including a 1 time radio iodine treatment that has a very high success rate especially since cats cannot get hypo thyroid only hyper. The initial cost is expensive but ineveitably cheaper and easier then pilling and going to the vets to find the correct dose. What killed your cat unfortunately was the not eating. The vet should have seen have told you to bring him in right away. Did the pill cause the not eating and drinking? Possibly I know this doesn't help much and I am very sorry for your loss. I do not support vets blindly and critizise them in many ways but in this case, I don't belive your vet gave the pills when not needed and a slight overdose wouldn't kill him

Answer 4

My 17 year old cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and her son had it for the last part of his life.

From my experience, it will take the vet at least a couple months and visits to get your cat's dosage right. I don't think his meds will make his thyroid levels drop too low. Hyperthyroidism can cause a lot of serious medical conditions in your cat, and I think a higher dose to combat it would be wiser than taking a very conservative approach.

If you have trouble administering the medicine to your cat, try Pill Pockets, which are little soft treats that you can hide medicine in. A lot of cats like them, although my cat liked them for only a few days.

Tapazole is also available in a transdermal cream that can be rubbed into your cat's ear. My cat seems to be nauseous on the pill version, so I may switch her to the cream.

If you are diligent about your cat's meds, it will be easier for the vet to calculate a dosage more effectively and quickly.

Good luck to you and your kitty, and I hope this helps! :)

Answer 5

I take it your vet put your cat on Tapazol. Do what the vet says. It will be okay. If your vet is a good doctor, she will recheck the bloodwork in a month. That is the only way they can get the proper dosage. With this medication, it is all trial and error and the bloodwork will tell them what they need to know. It will be okay.

Answer 6

listen to your vet, it is common to alter the dose of thyroid meds when you first start treating. 17.5 is really high and 7.5 is still very high. Its great that it dropped that much though. Good luck.

Answer 7

You should take it to a vet

Answer 8

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