My cat's thyroid is 1.8 on methimazole. Is it normal for his thirst?

Hi there! Sounds like you are an excellent owner! Tony is lucky! Yes, he can still be thirsty. The medications may be causing this and not necessarily the hyperthyroidism. If all the lab values are normal then I would not be too worried about it. I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and Tony!

I hate to hear Tony's levels are going up. The normal range will depend on the lab that is used. I recommend to call your vet and ask these questions because they know the reference range that Tony has been using this whole time. I hope this provides some guidance. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Symptoms of hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) in cats are: weight LOSS not gain, increased thirst and urination, increased hunger and vocalizing especially at night. They can have heart murmurs and arrhythmia. The side effects on not treating is heart disease and weight loss. I recommend treating if her T4 is above the high end of the reference range. Please feel free to post her blood work results. I hope this helps and I wish Sofi the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would have his thyroid rechecked soon. Schedule an appointment to have his T4 rechecked 4-6 hours after the pill is given. The dose may be too high causing hyperthyroid signs. Signs of too much thyroid hormone is increased thirst, urination, hunger, increased activity, weight loss. I wish you both the best!

I recommend to have Tommy’s thyroid level rechecked. These are not normal signs from the medication and could inidicate that the thyroid level is now too high or it could be unrelated. That’s why you need to know what his levels are while on the medication. Have the blood sample drawn 4-6 hours after he takes the medication. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.