I just brought my kitty home from the hospital

[bubblesby2002]

the vet said she has hyper thyroid-ism, and is low on potassium. So after paying the bill of over 600.00 Canadian (450.00 US+/-), I brought her home with three different types of medicine. Thank God for credit cards! She does seem to be perkier than before, but she hates medicine. They are all at different times too: one she gets once every 24 hours, one once every 12 hours, and the last one once every eight hours.

She is so weary but she is happy to be home with all the familiar smells and everything.

I'm so glad she's back too

:7

[Faygo Kid]

1. Congrats. Expensive, aren't they?

But, worth it. I lost my 11 year old dog to cancer four years ago, and paid thousands for treatment. Only extended her life about four months, though. When they get to a certain age, and are diagnosed with a certain condition, I guess you have to factor in value, as hard as that is.

[Fovea]

2. Love to the Kitty

Good to hear that she has a really caring owner.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Does she like bananas?

They have lots of potassium. Put them in the blender with a soupcon of cream, tell her it's a milkshake.

[bubblesby2002]

4. If she didn't like it

I could always eat it. She does like cream though. Thanks. :hi:

[Padraig18]

5. 'Gorilla milk'

Blend a banana with some milk--- I'll bet she eats it. :)

[izzie]

6. I am now treating my 11/12 year old cat for the same thing.

She got very ill and would not eat so I took her to vets. $75 for a test and a few other side cost and I took the 2 pills a day treatment as it was the best for my pocketbook. She looks 100% better and her fur is silky once more and I do not feel all the bones. She returns to vets first of next month and I am sure vet will be pleased but willing to bet it will be pills for ever. I got her from the pound in 95 and she had a bad eye(Operation the vet said to save her sight) and I felt she would never have a home so it is why I picked her. She is a nice cat.I am glad I picked her.Good luck with your cat.

[izzie]

7. Oh I roll the pill in her food but just start with about 1/4 teaspoon ...

and she grabs that right down so I do not have to fight the pill thing. They she gets the rest of her food.Works great.

[bubblesby2002]

8. thank you and good luck with your cat too.

Casey was a cat that we agreed (in 1996) to take from Mexican people who were going home to Mexico. And she is the sweetest little cat - she has such tiny feet. I'm glad we took her even though she has had surgery twice and had to have her teeth cleaned three times so far. The vet did say that for 3000.00 I can have her thyroid DE-activated-I said I will take the gel please. There is a gel that I need to rub on her ear twice a day as soon as a compounding pharmacy opens on Monday and I can get the gel.

[Catshrink]

11. I give Ryno the gel also...

She runs from me if she knows it's coming, but we manage. It's much easier than pills, that's for sure. She is getting better, too. I think she's gained a little weight. She was getting so thin -- that's what clued us in something was wrong. My little angel is almost 14 and is most definitely the sweetest cat ever! Not to mention beautiful -- see for yourself:

[izzie]

13. I could have done the gel thing but it was to costly.

The operation was not a thing he wished to do because of her age.

[brainshrub]

9. This post inspired this poll:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=789685

How much would you spend?

[Lisa0825]

10. I'm glad kitty is home and doing well...

What kind of symptoms was she having? Just curious.

[bubblesby2002]

19. Some of the symptoms the cat had

she was tired all the time, off her food one day, normal the next, and vomitting more than usual. But these thing are all fairly normal for a 16 year old cat. So it took me a while to realize she was sick. When I did realize she was not right, and took her to the vet, he lifted up the skin on her back and it didn't go back the way it should. This indicates whe was quite dehydrated.

It was the blood tests that found the thyroid thing, and the potassium thing.

[Lisa0825]

24. thanks for the reply....

I was curious for two reaons... 1) I am hypothyroid, so I was curious about how hyper-thyroidism manifested in cats, and 2) my cat has had a sporadic appetite lately, along with lethargy, so even though the vet gave her a good report, I worry.

I hope your kitty continues to improve, and thank you again for the info:-)

[Bertha Venation]

12. Good luck with the medicines.

I'm glad kitty's back home, bubblesby.

[camero]

14. I always got my cat his or her favorite soft food

and put the crushed pills in there. Good to see your kitty home. :hi:

[bubblesby2002]

20. I've had to dissolve the pill in water and then

use a syringe to make her swallow it. But al least that means she's getting more water. Hi there.:hi:

[camero]

22. Never tried that one

Course having more water is good when she's sick. It helps to flush the system. How's the weather there? I see it's a little chilly. :)

[bubblesby2002]

23. Today was gorgeous

The sun was shining and it was about 55 degrees. My friend came over and she weeded my little garden while I washed my car. But it's cold tonight. It might even be close to freezing; still can see all the stars though. What's it like in Florida?;-)

[camero]

26. Nice here

Sorry I missed your post. I was having too much fun. :D

It was near 80f today. I was looking at the Vancouver Sun website and it said it was 7c. At least it's above freezing which it usually is there.

[marigold20]

15. My car could daintily eat the food and spit out the pieces of pill!

If it was pulverized and added to the food, she wouldn't eat the food at all. I finally had some luck with burying about a quarter of a pill in a "hairball" kitty treat. I wonder if the pill scooted right out the other end with the hairballs!

[alittlelark]

16. My Tara had the same thing when she was 16 years old

I did the pills for a few months then opted for the radioactive iodine treatment. It cost $800, but she came out great and lived 4 more wonderful years. I would occasionally forget the pills - and I would have to basiclly shove them down her throat. She wouldn't eat anything they had been ground up in, and she would spit it out whole if I tried covering it w/food.
I just figured she would be better off with a permanant fix. Fortunately, one of the hospitals that does it is in Pacifica, CA - pretty close to me. Best of luck w/ your baby!

[flamingyouth]

17. Our Tiffany has had hyperthyroidism for four years

She's almost 17 and still going pretty strong. The medicine for it isn't that much, and I'm sure it's way cheaper up your way. :D

Glad she's home and doing well! :hi:

[joeybee12]

18. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for the kitty!

[bubblesby2002]

21. Thanks everyone

This is the best place for cat lovers in the whole wide world.:hug:

[grasswire]

25. I lost my dear Chester to hyperthyroidism in November

Sixteen years with that darling cat. He just couldn't regain his weight, and fought everything we tried to do. Hated being pilled, hated being given meds with water in an eyedropper, hated attempts to inject fluids under his skin.

And so I finally decided to give him some peace and let him go in his own way at his own time. He lived another six months without any stress and passed away in his usual spot at my feet one night.

It was VERY difficult for me to see him wane away. But he wasn't in pain, and he was chipper enough long enough to snag two pieces of bacon out of the fridge a week before he died.

I did everything I could to help him regain weight. Home-cooked broth, prepared dozens of different foods both for pets and humans. Nothing worked.

How I miss that cat!

[dmr]

27. Mine takes thyroid pills too

He's a smart and grumpy old man to boot, making it difficult to fool him. BUT Red has a weakness for milk, so I crush the pill into a fine powder and mix it in a small amount of milk, and he's none the wiser on my con job. He's going in for a check up this coming week. He's been vomiting quite a bit again lately.

My newest baby, Eddie, is coming home from the hospital this morning. I can't wait to see and hold her. She is about 5 months old and the vet found a heart murmur. On the scale of 1-6, one being the least problem, she measured between a 4 and 5. I don't know what the future holds for her. Vet said she could live until she is old, or only another month. An ultrasound would help determine that, but I can't afford an ultrasound. The vet recommended she still be spayed (which is why she went to the vet in the first place). Even though she has the heart murmur and surgery was risky, Eddie did very well. The vet kept her an extra night just to be safe. I love this little baby, and my heart is breaking. Now why would we name a beautiful girl Eddie? Blame my son, who is an Iron Maiden fan.