My cat on methimazole has side effects. Are they an emergency?

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.

Yes I would stop the methimazole until you can have him checked again by your veterinarian. If he feels better off the methimazole then the methimazole dose may have been too high. They will check his blood work again for the thyroid level and for the pancreatitis. When changing diets I try adding just a small amount of new food at each meal until he gets used to it. Cats are fussy eaters but if he's still not eating it may be that Jojo just doesn't feel well and it wasn't that he didn't like the food. Once cats get regulated on the thyroid medication usually things smooth out and you'll have less problems. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jojo.

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.

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.

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. I hope that Tikvichko is feeling better at this time. If he is not, you should seek a veterinary emergency center. He may need IV fluids and treatment for acidosis. (If his blood has become acidic from the medication) You can also call animal poison control, as they would have the best information regarding overdosages of specific drugs. That number is (888) 426-4435. There is a fee but they are a wealth of potentially life saving information. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Richochet is one handsome little guy! I'm sorry to hear that he's had so many behavioral changes since his methimazole dose has been regulated. The most common side effects from methimzaole include stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea, appetite changes), lethargy, facial itchiness, as well as some liver issues and changes in blood cell counts. Behavioral changes aren't documented as known side effects of this medication (I just double checked!), although excess vocalization has been recognized as a side effect. While we keep in mind that not all cats "read the textbooks," it would be unexpected for all of these behavioral changes to occur due to methimazole alone. Given your recent move and Richochet's age, it does stand to reason that anxiety from these changes or cognitive dysfunction (essentially kitty dementia) could be to blame here. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to give Prozac a try, but it's also important to note that it takes about 2 months for that medication to reach therapeutic levels. The other thing to consider would be discontinuing the methimazole (even temporarily) to see if his behaviors return to normal. Methimazole reaches a therapeutic level in about 2 weeks, so if you have to restart it, there's less of a time lag. Ultimately, I think there's going to be some trial and error involved here. Please remember that you should ONLY make any changes to Richochet's medications under the direct guidance of your vet. I hope that everything goes well!

I would skip this dose and be sure to speak to the vet first thing tomorrow. Facial dermatitis can be a side effect with tapazole. Please contact your vet tomorrow to discuss the next steps for Micheal’s treatment.