How does doubling Methimazole lower my cat's high thyroid levels?

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.

I assume that Chetoh was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, as cats are rarely diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Typically, I treat with methimazole pills twice daily as a starting point. I find that the T4 hormone is better controlled with oral medications than the transdermal medications on the ear because absorption is variable with this method. Once hyperthyroidism is well controlled and it is apparent that the kidneys are stable, it can be worth considering I-131 (radioactive iodine) treatment, as it stops the need for medication at home in most cases. All of that said, there are still plenty of cases that I do prescribe the transdermal ear version of methimazole because some cats are extremely difficult to medicate at home. Just make sure that Chetoh follows his vet's recommendation for follow up lab testing so that his medication dosage stays appropriate.

I-131 (radioactive iodine) is a fantastic option if your cat's T4 (thyroid hormone) and kidney values on bloodwork have remained stable while she's been taking methimazole. In fact, it's considered the gold standard treatment modality in cats that are considered good candidates. There are some cats that have existing kidney disease "unmasked" once treatment for hyperthyroidism begins, so these cats are not considered good candidates for I-131 therapy. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that requires lifelong management, so your vet is correct in stating that treatment should continue indefinitely. However, you're correct in that you may have another good option. Methimazole is not advantageous over I-131. If anything, it has more potential side effects than I-131, but we use it since the good far outweighs the bad for the vast majority of cases. Few specialty hospitals actually administer I-131, but if you have one in your area, it is absolutely worth scheduling a consultation to help determine if your cat is a good candidate for this treatment modality. I hope that everything goes well!

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!

Having high thyroid should make him have a better appetite so i would not expect it to get better with a higher tapazole dose. If anything, controlling his thyroid more may make the appetite worse. If a cat with hyperthyroidism is not eating well then i would worry about some other concurrent disease process, especially with such a senior kitty. If all other labwork is normal then the next step is imaging of the chest and abdomen to rule out other disease processes. There are other ways to support the appetite as well besides mirtazepine, so if your pet is losing weight make sure you discuss this with your vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

First, I would discuss your concerns with your vet and advise them that Tiffy is still showing signs of being hyperthyroid. Also remember that it will take at least 2-3 weeks for blood levels to change and clinical signs can take a while to improve once blood levels improve. It is most common to give the medication twice daily, but some people do give it once daily. So, if they have been on their current dose for more than 6 weeks without any improvement in their clinical signs, I would recommend discussing it with your veterinarian and discussing if increasing the dose or the frequency of the medication makes the most sense for your kitties. Good luck! I hope you can get your kitties feeling better, and i hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.