Ren has been Diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism - Damn
Discussion
It can very much depend on the individual cat and home set up. ie a cat that can't be maedicated either diet or surgery, if diet not liked, then surgery.
Diet not practical for me due to other cats I have, they wouldn't be allowed to eat it.
Tablets are fine but then they need blood testing every 3 months to ensure tablets are at the right level and don't need adjusting, could be a problem if your cat doesn't like being handled etc.
My plan is probably a month of tablets retest blood if responding and stabilised then go for surgery so hopefully no need for more tabs unless the second gland starts playing up!! That's another complication (more serious too have two thyroid nodules removed) However the biggest problem is the vet can't actually feel an enlarged gland on Ren so it will hard to know which one will need removing! That's why they want to scan her as they are a bit concerned that she may have something else going on,
Your vets should be able to advise you, hope she does respond well
Thank you for all the positive responses and good wishes for Ren, I'll pass them on to her, she (and I) send good wishes to all fellow sufferers!
Diet not practical for me due to other cats I have, they wouldn't be allowed to eat it.
Tablets are fine but then they need blood testing every 3 months to ensure tablets are at the right level and don't need adjusting, could be a problem if your cat doesn't like being handled etc.
My plan is probably a month of tablets retest blood if responding and stabilised then go for surgery so hopefully no need for more tabs unless the second gland starts playing up!! That's another complication (more serious too have two thyroid nodules removed) However the biggest problem is the vet can't actually feel an enlarged gland on Ren so it will hard to know which one will need removing! That's why they want to scan her as they are a bit concerned that she may have something else going on,
Your vets should be able to advise you, hope she does respond well
Thank you for all the positive responses and good wishes for Ren, I'll pass them on to her, she (and I) send good wishes to all fellow sufferers!
Tbh I'm not sure, I suppose diet. It is more expensive than a normal diet food as it is a real breakthrough diet but I think the difference is less than keeping the same diet and paying for tablets on top. Blood tests will still be needed with the diet food.
I would have been tempted to try it first then move onto tablets if the diet didn't do the job but it's best to chat to your vet re: options they feel are appropriate.
I would have been tempted to try it first then move onto tablets if the diet didn't do the job but it's best to chat to your vet re: options they feel are appropriate.
No but it's only been 3 days. I tend to be able to disguise quite well, probably because I'm not worried about doing it but I better not get too big headed about it yet 
My older boy is a bit wiser and does a slightly half hearted attempt to run off but I think he knows there's no point really.
My older boy is a bit wiser and does a slightly half hearted attempt to run off but I think he knows there's no point really.
Bit of an update as I'm feeling very concerned that I'm losing my little Renny cat.
Things aren't going well, her weight is dropping almost daily (100g in 3 days just this weekend) her thyroid levels have dropped too low, her appetite is rubbish, bloods, scans, xrays not showing anything but she appears to be fading in front of me.
More bloods today, talk of a referral scan, and all the while she gets thinner. teeth ok, vets are struggling to know whats going on. She seems to want to eat but 2 mouthfuls in she walks off. And now she's taken to sitting in the bath?!
4 months ago my little 4 legged friend was the picture of health, now she's verging on skeletal
Things aren't going well, her weight is dropping almost daily (100g in 3 days just this weekend) her thyroid levels have dropped too low, her appetite is rubbish, bloods, scans, xrays not showing anything but she appears to be fading in front of me.
More bloods today, talk of a referral scan, and all the while she gets thinner. teeth ok, vets are struggling to know whats going on. She seems to want to eat but 2 mouthfuls in she walks off. And now she's taken to sitting in the bath?!
4 months ago my little 4 legged friend was the picture of health, now she's verging on skeletal
Thank you so much, it means a lot, we've resorted to the inevitable steroids plus vit injections and more tablets.
I think I would cope better if I knew what the problem was, even if it was that she had something not treatable. I'm worried that either I have to say goodbye to her when she may have something treatable (though god knows what!) or it is terminal (I hate that word) but I keep going for more treatment/ tests.
You see, when it comes down to it, I'm just a pet owner and I worry just the same, like we all do
I think I would cope better if I knew what the problem was, even if it was that she had something not treatable. I'm worried that either I have to say goodbye to her when she may have something treatable (though god knows what!) or it is terminal (I hate that word) but I keep going for more treatment/ tests.
You see, when it comes down to it, I'm just a pet owner and I worry just the same, like we all do
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 2nd October 13:26
Our cat Leo responded really well to the thyroid tablets and seemed to be doing great then he just stopped eating, he hadn't eaten since last Tuesday morning when we took him to the vets yesterday, he had lost 300g in a week leaving him at 2.5kg They have recently done x-ray/bloods/camera down his throat to see if there were other issues and the vet came to the conclusion that it was likely something wrong with his brain, we were given the option yesterday to have him put to sleep or to carry on for a few more days and if no improvement do it later this week.
We decided we couldn't go through with it then and wanted to have some time to say goodbye properly so said we would sleep on it, the vet gave him a steroid injection to see if it would help. At about 9 last night he decides that he is hungry after all and scoffed a whole tin of pate and a ton of biscuits, this morning he was his normal shouty self and seemed completely unaware of what could have happened if we had agreed to go through with it yesterday.
I know we aren't out of the woods yet but there is a hope, fingers crossed Ren can pull through too.
We decided we couldn't go through with it then and wanted to have some time to say goodbye properly so said we would sleep on it, the vet gave him a steroid injection to see if it would help. At about 9 last night he decides that he is hungry after all and scoffed a whole tin of pate and a ton of biscuits, this morning he was his normal shouty self and seemed completely unaware of what could have happened if we had agreed to go through with it yesterday.
I know we aren't out of the woods yet but there is a hope, fingers crossed Ren can pull through too.
They know how to worry us. Brain problem was also mentioned with Ren (ie tumour) as it is hard to detect and with varying symtoms esp odd behaviours, hope not, lost my last cat to a brain tumour .
Glad too hear that Leo has responded for a bit, I hope he continues to. Definitely fingers crossed that the steroid helps Ren aswell.
.Glad too hear that Leo has responded for a bit, I hope he continues to
. Definitely fingers crossed that the steroid helps Ren aswell.Hi Ali,
ThInk you for asking after Ren, it's not looking good, tbh I'm tearing up writing this Her appetite picked a bit with steroids but she was very down so I asked to stop the thyroid tablets. She seemed a bit better for a day but now she has diarrhoea with blood and is now vomiting every time I give her the other tablets. I don't t think her quality of life is good and if I can't give her her medication she is going to get worse.
On top of it all Fitz is going off his food, drinking more than ever (seems non stop at times) his back is obviously troubling him and his bum is red raw ( not sure why)
I really think I have a tough decision ahead because the realisation is hitting me that I may have to say goodbye forever to both of them at the same time, which is more than I can cope with but at the same time having them end their days together seems right. Now I'm struggling to read what I'm typing.
ThInk you for asking after Ren, it's not looking good, tbh I'm tearing up writing this Her appetite picked a bit with steroids but she was very down so I asked to stop the thyroid tablets. She seemed a bit better for a day but now she has diarrhoea with blood and is now vomiting every time I give her the other tablets. I don't t think her quality of life is good and if I can't give her her medication she is going to get worse.
On top of it all Fitz is going off his food, drinking more than ever (seems non stop at times) his back is obviously troubling him and his bum is red raw ( not sure why)
I really think I have a tough decision ahead because the realisation is hitting me that I may have to say goodbye forever to both of them at the same time, which is more than I can cope with but at the same time having them end their days together seems right. Now I'm struggling to read what I'm typing.
Edited by bexVN on Sunday 7th October 23:42
bexVN said:
I really think I have a tough decision ahead because the realisation is hitting me that I may have to say goodbye forever to both of them at the same time, which is more than I can cope with but at the same time having them end their days together seems right. Now I'm struggling to read what I'm typing.
We are so sorry to hear this.Fingers crossed that they perk up.
I'm so sorry!I'm not going to give up on either of them without a fight Feel a bit better this am, Ren hasn't had any diarrhoea for a few hrs and has eaten and Fitz has decided to eat this am!! But he is not eating his special food so he's at risk of his pancreatitis flaring up.
So another day and another chance to hope they are ok (esp Ren)
Thank you again and sorry for the emotionally charged post last night. I was a bit of a blubbery mess last night!
So another day and another chance to hope they are ok (esp Ren)
Thank you again and sorry for the emotionally charged post last night. I was a bit of a blubbery mess last night!
Oh, Bex.
Hopefully your friend will you give you some comfort and strength, and possibly advice, for what is to come.
I hope you have longer with them both! Either way, I think you can ease your soul slightly knowing that those 2 have had just about the best care ever, and will continue to get that right up until they need the ultimate sacrifice from you.
Thinking of you (all of you!) K x
Hopefully your friend will you give you some comfort and strength, and possibly advice, for what is to come.
I hope you have longer with them both! Either way, I think you can ease your soul slightly knowing that those 2 have had just about the best care ever, and will continue to get that right up until they need the ultimate sacrifice from you.
Thinking of you (all of you!) K x
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