Henry's Hyperthyroidism Diagnosis And Treatment

In January, Henry was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and ever since then he has been a regular at his veterinary hospital because his thyroid hormone levels need to be monitored carefully because the levels affect his:

metabolism

body temperature

blood pressure

heart rate 

and gastrointestinal function

One of the most alarming signs of Henry's hyperthyroidism was his increased appetite but yet he was quickly losing weight at the same time. Normally, Henry weighs between ten and eleven pounds but at the time of his January visit Henry weighed 7.5 pounds. Shocking news for a cat mom, for sure!

The vet prescribed methimazole to help lower his 10.5 thyroid level but the side effects were bothersome (vomiting and skin rash) so of course the vet immediately replaced the medication with

Hill's Prescription Diet Y/D for thyroid health. This diet is very pricey but Henry loves the dry and wet food very much and it shows because as of this month his thyroid level is at 7.6 and he is now at 8 pounds! 

If your cat exhibits an increased appetite and/or thirst, vomits frequently, has diarrhea, etc, he/she should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible so that treatment can be given immediately!