My cat has hyperthyroidism & pancreatitis. Should I stop methimazole?

These signs could be consistent with methimazole related side effects. GI upset and facial itching are some of the most common acute side effects in the first few months of therapy. I would recommend stopping the medication until you can talk to your vet about your concerns. Some cats can not take this medication and thus require an alternate method of treatment. If still eating and drinking that is good. If any of the symptoms worsen an ER visit is advised. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism generally include things like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive vocalization, and increased appetite or thirst. I would tend to agree with your veterinarian that if your kitty is not losing weight or having any other symptoms of a problem, there is no reason to change his medication dosage - although an increase may be needed in the future if he starts to have symptoms again.

Luv Bug is so very fortunate to have you as an owner. I am sure that you are one of the main reasons that she is going strong at 17 years of age. Kudos to you for your consideration and compassion for your pet. In terms of hyperthyroidism in cats, there are only three real treatments on the market today. These are methimazole treatment, thyroidectomy surgery, and radioactive iodine treatment. It is believed in the veterinary community that radioactive iodine is the gold standard treatment today. With the information you have provided, I can offer you a few possibilities for future treatment: 1. Perhaps you can get the math him is all in a tablet form to crush it into a fine powder and then mix it with any palatable substance that she likes and then squirt it in her mouth with a syringe. This, however, may cause some behavior problems because she may not like this either. 2. If you are willing to accept the costs and all of the different parts that go with the radioactive iodine treatment, I say go for it because the success rate for that specific treatment is excellent. Thank you very much for your question and I know you will make the right decision on her behalf. Have a great day.

No that is uncommon. Many cats do not do well with diet changes and he certainly had a poor reaction to the food. Continue with his old diet. If you are unable to give oral medication you can have the medication made into a gel that you can rub on the ear flap where it will be absorbed through the skin. A compounding pharmacy can do this for you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Theo.

Hi and thanks for your post. 1.5ug/dL is not too low. After starting treatment with methimazole, thyroid hormone will generally fall within the lower 1/3 of the reference range anywhere from 0.8 to 2.3ug/dL is normal. Lower than 0.8ug/dL would be a concern, however. The picky eating may be due to a dental problem Tony has to from changing the food too frequently- that may make him a very picky eater very quickly! Try sticking to one food without changing it- he won't starve! I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

No, you shouldn't discontinue the medicine without consulting your vet but you must take her to your vet ASAP as there is obviously a problem, either the dosage needs to be adjusted or maybe she is developing a kidney disease, which is common with cats with hyperthyroidism.

I am sorry to hear about Midnite. I would call and let your vet know of the symptoms. You don't mention if he just started this medication or if he has been on it long term. Some cats can experience lethargy and GI upset when first starting the medication and in some cases we need to start at a lower dose and taper it up, but you need to consult with your vet in order to know if this is the right course of action for your kitty. If he has been on methimazole for a long time and just started with the lethargy/decreased appetite, then an exam and possibly bloodwork are in order for him to ensure there isn't another cause for his symptoms.