Can I give my senior cat old hyperthyroid meds to avoid a vet?

So sorry she is having these problems. It sounds like she should be re-examined by a veterinarian since her signs are not well managed. Your vet may need to add in a blood pressure medication and/or an anti-seizure medication, as well as adjust her thyroid medication. If your vet is not able to manage her disease than your could go to a different vet for a second opinion or even take her to a specialist for an evaluation. Please call your vet an give him/her an update.

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.

Hello, I am sorry I misunderstood your question earlier. I hope this response helps you. In order to stage renal failure, we need to know the urine specific gravity, blood pressure, and urine protein to creatinine ratio. Based on the values you provided, she has chronic kidney disease but I cannot stage it without further information. If the free T4 was elevated that is consistent with hyperthyroidism which often masks underlying kidney disease. Therefore, her kidney disease could be worse than we suspect based on the info you provided above. Realistically, she has two diseases and fortunately both are treatable. Ultimately, the prognosis depends on response to therapy. It is not uncommon for some patients to do well for a few years with appropriate therapy and kidney diet. Prior to treating her hyperthyroidism, her kidney disease should be treated (at home) with subcutaneous fluid therapy, antibiotics to cover for an underlying kidney infection, and vitamin B12 supplementation. After she feels better and begins eating consistently, discuss treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Unregulated thyroid disease varies by patient but can have many adverse effects including severe weight loss, distress and heart/circulation complications. There are treatment options which avoid regular/at home medications for which he may be a suitable candidate and I strongly recommend you discuss your issues with your vet to determine if these are an option or if referral to an endocrinology/internal medicine specialist maybe of help. Dietary control can also be of assistance in managing overactive thyroid cases and should be considered, especially in hard to manage cases. Offering the medications in a small (teaspoon) of warm strongly smelling soft food or treats/pill pockets just before feeding when hungry (remove all other food options for 4-6hrs before this) can help also

The signs of death can vary greatly from pet to pet. Often they will stop eating or drinking (and if you do not plan to treat, it can be uncomfortable for them if you force food or water since their body is shutting down). They will become profoundly lethargic. They may vocalize more or find a hiding place. I would not say hyperthyroidism itself is painful, but the side effects of it can be quite uncomfortable. Imagine eating everything in sight and still being hungry. Constant vomiting or diarrhea. No energy to do anything. There are medications your doctor can prescribe to treat hyperthyroidism. If you cannot afford topical or oral medications or a prescription food (like Hill's y/d), then you should watch Callie closely for signs of discomfort, and schedule time to talk with your vet about humane euthanasia so that she is not forced to suffer the consequences of her disease. I know that will be a very hard decision. Here is some more information you may find helpful: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=516 http://www.lapoflove.com/diseases/feline/Hyperthyroidism_in_Cats.pdf

The heart condition is likely a sequel to the hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism speeds up the heart rate, and that increases the thickness of the heart muscle which will enlarge the heart. Please do not experiment with herbal medicines. Hyperthyroidism, if not controlled will cause the heart condition to worsen, so it is absolutely necessary to use medications that will work such as thyreostatic medication (the thyroid medications your veterinarian prescribed). The Furosemide will help your cat get rid of the fluid in her lungs. Please listen to your veterinarian. Your kitty can have a good quality of life with the correct medications. This is one case where herbals will not help.

Do not stop the blood pressure medication without first talking to the vet who is treating Tinker. It sounds like it may be helpful to run some lab work on her to see how well controlled her hyperthyroidism is, and see if that medication needs adjusted. If an adjustment in her dose of hyperthyroidism med is needed, then it MAY be ok to stop the blood pressure mediation once she's on a different dose, BUT DO NOT DO THIS without first talking to the vet who is managing her case. The other concern and possibility here is that there may be a separate issue going on such as cancer. The older they get the more likely we are to see multiple problems arise. Good luck with her! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!