tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post4228958085803879074..comments2024-03-19T15:11:11.769-04:00Comments on Insights into Veterinary Endocrinology: The Best Diet to Feed Hyperthyroid CatsDr. Mark E. Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-1286126588340160042018-01-21T15:39:50.218-05:002018-01-21T15:39:50.218-05:00Thank you for this information - it just makes sen...Thank you for this information - it just makes sense to me. <br /><br />Our 14 year old male cat has hyperthyroidism reading of 132 [normal 0-60] and the radioactive treatment, surgery and pill taking is not an option for this always indoor cat - or for us and our budget too I selfishly admit.<br /><br />We have fed our 2 cats of same age 'higher quality?' - or higher priced it seems dry food and more recently Royal Canin Indoor seniors dry food thinking it was good for them - I should have read more a long time ago. His life partner of similar age died while we were away in mid 2017 and I now suspect she had same problem as he is showing.<br /><br />After reading tons of info and trying the Hills YD diet which he hated and so do I.<br /><br />I am now giving him <b>Ziwi Peak rabbit and lamb canned food </b> which has high animal protein and lower than normal iodine 0.82mg per 100g and I finally having him eating well and looking happy.<br /><br />His kidney reading was on the high side of normal so I suspect he has problems there too.<br /><br />My intention is to give him a happy well fed home life - without the stress to him of the other treatments. My main concern for him is minimising/eliminating PAIN. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03530644667774393068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-23250253019480234032018-01-16T09:17:04.848-05:002018-01-16T09:17:04.848-05:00On catinfo.org, they make it very clear that wet f...On catinfo.org, they make it very clear that wet food is the only respectable option for conscientious cat owners because of how it meets the requirements of the obligate carnivore. We were feeding Punkin and Peanut (now 13 years old) Fancy Feast for about eight years until Peanut started to show signs of hyperthyroidism which was confirmed by our vet. Then I learned about the dangers of soy in the diet of a cat and we immediately quit feeding them Fancy Feast and went to the Solstice products. More expensive yes, but you can pay now or you can pay later with a sick animal on your hands as well as high vet bills. We then learned about how pull-top cans have been linked to hyperthyroidism in cats. However true or not, we decided it was best to avoid the canned food whenever possible. We started feeding them Rad Cat raw poultry and they really liked it for about two months, then began demanding other things (you can tell because they'll just stop eating something and you wonder why). Then about two weeks ago we learned about the benefits of bone broth, so we cooked down a whole chicken, following the instructions found online. Combined with the meat from the carcass and the broth, the cats are really enjoying it and there seem to be fewer health issues, such as vomiting, diarrhea, etc., with Peanut, the HT cat. Ultimately we're learning variety is the key, but to avoid anything that stresses the thyroid, such as tuna because of the amount of iodine. And remember, the kind of soy used in cat food is also found in human food and it's no good for either of us.Rex Hamannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00187881812090120009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-26871789815141260242017-07-25T14:45:08.499-04:002017-07-25T14:45:08.499-04:00Canned is best, as I note in my post.Canned is best, as I note in my post.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-53208953409105069242017-07-25T11:48:23.426-04:002017-07-25T11:48:23.426-04:00Hello Dr. Peterson, thank you for this page! My 15...Hello Dr. Peterson, thank you for this page! My 15 year-old female cat has been healthy til a few months ago, but always threw up her food at least 2-3 times a week (from eating too fast I presumed). The rest of her was looking great, with plenty of energy and shiny coat so we didn't worry. She was on a high-protein dry cat food (45%). <br />Recently she started throwing up daily, her pupils won't retract anymore, and now she's loosing her balance. At the recommendation of the pet store, we switched her to a new food with less protein (35%), and she's been getting worse MUCH faster: now she's very wobbly too. And owing to your article, I can see why: she is loosing her muscles and getting weaker by the day! :(<br />Yesterday our vet diagnosed hyperthyroid with a number of 8.2... Very high. The choice given was y/d or the meds, so we picked the meds (syringe 2x/day), but I also need a great new food for her. Do you think wet food is easier to digest, for her sensitive stomach (she has been throwing up occasionally for years)? Or is dry food more nutrient-dense, so she can get enough nutrition? Or can I combine both: wet food for meals and dry food for snacks in-between, for example? Thank you!Laetihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539791241532282349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-39470045332937464432017-04-09T05:47:05.413-04:002017-04-09T05:47:05.413-04:00Thank You, Dr. Peterson!!Thank You, Dr. Peterson!!ChelseaMaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17510558177555878578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-82435650479349957662017-04-07T09:56:01.387-04:002017-04-07T09:56:01.387-04:00Your cat will gain weight and body fat after contr...Your cat will gain weight and body fat after controlling the hyperthyroidism. A higher protein diet (FF classic flavors are high in protein). You may need to add in a phosphate binder to control high serum phosphate levels to slow progression of kidney disease. Talk to your vet.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-32821739532069318742017-04-07T06:59:31.292-04:002017-04-07T06:59:31.292-04:00Thank you for helping us kitty moms, Dr. Peterson!...Thank you for helping us kitty moms, Dr. Peterson! I've read thru everything but I still need to clarify that I'm Understanding it right. Big Kitty (not big anymore) is 15 & she was diagnosed with HyperT. the vet said we caught it at the right time because her kidney levels were only 2 over normal range.. she was prescribed Methimazole twice a day & the vet gave us Hills K/D wet food. Well Big Kitty will not touch the hills K/D food.. she much prefers her fancy feast I guess. So if she won't eat the K/D do I need to find something she will eat that's high in protein to help her gain weight back? Thanks!ChelseaMaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17510558177555878578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-29320243793182451772017-01-05T14:54:45.879-05:002017-01-05T14:54:45.879-05:00That's what I would do if you were referred to...That's what I would do if you were referred to me. No reason to treat with y/d or 2 months. The radioiodine facility, however, may have their own (and different) opinion.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-51463142905950760272016-11-30T15:28:38.396-05:002016-11-30T15:28:38.396-05:00If oral methimazole produced severe leukopenia, th...If oral methimazole produced severe leukopenia, then the transdermal would do the same. I'd recommend radioiodine treatment to cure this problem.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-46646288455834125162016-11-29T16:31:03.762-05:002016-11-29T16:31:03.762-05:00Dr. Peterson,
My now 16 yr. old cat was diagnosed ...Dr. Peterson,<br />My now 16 yr. old cat was diagnosed with hyperthryoidism about 1.5 years ago, at age 15. The vet started her on oral methimazole and she went into a severe decline. Her white blood cell count was as low as someone on chemotherapy (per the vet). He said he has never seen such a reaction and it is very rare. I put her back on regular food (whatever she would eat) and she gained some weight and improved, then she had to be on the Y/D Science diet exclusively. At the time we felt that the radioactive and surgery were cost prohibitive given her age. Now at age 16.5 her latest blood work shows the hyperthryoidism not very well controlled and she is at a very low weight, 6 lbs. down from 7 one year ago, down half a pound from 6 months ago. She does eat the Y/D dry. No muscle mass although still able to walk and jump on lower furniture. The vet thought that perhaps she would tolerate the transdermal methimazole and we could try that; he is going to contact some universities to see if that might work in a cat with such an unusual reaction to the pills. Have you ever seen that kind of reaction to methimazole and would the transdermal be any different? The only other option I can see from reading extensively and talking to my vet would be the expensive interventions. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01736213230598828395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-20135504532835890102016-10-26T15:53:48.230-04:002016-10-26T15:53:48.230-04:00I would verify results and monitor body wt and hea...I would verify results and monitor body wt and heart rate again in 3-6 months. Then decide whether to treat or not based on progression (or not).Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-39092570465900573022016-10-26T14:30:29.853-04:002016-10-26T14:30:29.853-04:00Dr. Peterson,
My 9 year old cat was just diagnose...Dr. Peterson,<br /><br />My 9 year old cat was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in our last regular check-up with the vet on 9/30/16. I have been endlessly researching hyperT in cat, reading your blogs and articles finding out amazing information so thank you. But I do have a few more specific questions specifically regarding his case and would love your input if able. <br /><br />Since Gregory is now a "senior" we completed the senior blood work-up at our last vet visit on 9/30. She added on the Cardiopet pro-BNP due to an audible arrhythmia noted on his last 2 evaluations.<br /><br />The values of concern are: <br />Total T4 is 4.5 (0.8-4.7)<br />Free T4 (ng/dl) which is 3.4 (0.7-2.6 range)<br />Free T4 (pmol/L) which is 43.8 (9-33.5 range)<br /><br />Clinically he is showing few if any of the regular signs of hyperthyroidism - coat is perfect, no weight loss, no vomiting or diarrhea. He sleeps all day and still snuggles as per usual. He has become a bit more active overnight between 1-6am and has always been very very excited and noisy about his food. But that does vary based on my schedule and his.<br /><br />We had a cardic work-up done to determine why Cardiopet pro-BNP was elevated but ECHO revealed 5mm thickness in heart wall which vet said was normal, normal EKG, HR 190-200bpm, Bloodpressure 180mmHg. There was a notable E:A wave inversion on the ECHO, but did not require any treatment at this time. She also felt some of these values could be elevated due to stress. The cardiologist also noted a thyroid slip on palpation but was unsure if this was a tumor or possible normal enlargement.<br /><br />I have been looking into I-131 treatment and would be willing to do it when he is ready. However, I am concerned that since his numbers are fairly low or borderline and very few if any clinical signs are present, should I be treating now? or wait and monitor T4 levels until they rise? I do not want to begin treating him too soon, but also do not want further heart or kidney damage to occur while I am waiting for symptoms to come on. <br /><br />We have only had 1 round of bloodwork showing elevated levels at this time and that was 1 month ago. Weight and clinical signs have remained unchanged this month. I am worried to treat too soon for fear of the tumor returning or potentially putting him into a permanent hypothyroid state. <br /><br />Thanks so much in advance!Merryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12505039320067989901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-3337878659227995492016-10-09T08:50:44.330-04:002016-10-09T08:50:44.330-04:00Have you ever checked the cat on the methimazole? ...Have you ever checked the cat on the methimazole? This is a potentially toxic drug with many potential side effects. I'd stop the drug for now and call and see your vet ASAP.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-68848014084534040682016-10-08T23:46:33.826-04:002016-10-08T23:46:33.826-04:00I have been battling w/HT for 4 yrs now but didn&#...I have been battling w/HT for 4 yrs now but didn't know that was the problem. I thought it was IBS. She is a shelter kitty so not positive on her age but per shelter she is 14 but the vet thinks she's around 10. In April she was diagnosed w/HT. Dr started her on meds 2x's daily. She responded well. We were on track, she was gaining weight, acting like a normal cat. I'd put the pill in a pill pocket & she'd gobble it up. 2 weeks ago she started rejecting her meds and food. She's always gotten bored & I'd rotate her food & she'd start eating again. Not this time. For a cat that is literally back down to skin & bones in just 2 weeks, she is like wrestling a rhino to get that pill down her. There are very few foods on the shelves that I have not tried at least once. The last 3 days have become critical as she is starting to wobble when she walks & her eyes have sunk back. To complicate this my area was just hit by Hurricane Matthew so everything has been shut down since Wednesday. I don't know if she will make it to Monday. Any guidance that may help me help her hold on until I can get her to the vet on Monday would be extremely appreciatedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-7987217774151365402016-10-02T14:32:50.874-04:002016-10-02T14:32:50.874-04:00It's very difficult to find a natural low-iodi...It's very difficult to find a natural low-iodine diet and all higher protein diets contain a lot of iodine. I'd recommend either surgical thyroidectomy or I-131.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-19721843030482963902016-10-01T23:03:31.031-04:002016-10-01T23:03:31.031-04:00Dr.Mark,
Unfortunately I must feed my cat yd. Hyp...Dr.Mark,<br />Unfortunately I must feed my cat yd. Hyperthyroidism was causing seizures. My cat was allergic to th thyroid medication. The yd is helping the seizures but my old cat has the muscle and protein deficiency you wrote about. Is there any iodine free protein source? Recently his appetite went down and he vomits anything he does eat. I'm worried. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16809211035692349935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-15630821823401971342016-09-27T11:04:17.703-04:002016-09-27T11:04:17.703-04:00Thank you for your response! Last night I made a ...Thank you for your response! Last night I made a disheartening discovery - I found what looked to be some pill remnants on and near his bed. I thought I was being diligent in getting the pills down but somehow he outsmarted me and apparently was able to spit some of the pills out. I think this happened in the last few days but of course I can't be sure. My vet wants me to continue the dose and have his T4 checked next week. I bought the pill pockets and that seemed to work better. I am considering the I-131 treatment. My vet thinks I should wait a little before having that done as he is diabetic and has a few other issues we are trying to work out.Karin N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01988370036229843325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-17899120725292957682016-09-27T08:20:16.275-04:002016-09-27T08:20:16.275-04:00There is no upper dose, but I've never gone hi...There is no upper dose, but I've never gone higher than 30 mg. This high dose means that the tumor volume is large and likely continuing to grow. I agree that the 4.2 isn't too bad but I'd recheck again in a month and then increase the dose if higher.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-10987419194196916172016-09-26T16:29:17.370-04:002016-09-26T16:29:17.370-04:00Hi Dr. Peterson,
I followed your earlier advice a...Hi Dr. Peterson,<br /><br />I followed your earlier advice and had my vet switch my cat to methimazole pills instead of the transdermal gel which was not working at all. At diagnosis his T4 was 11.8. It went down to 5.2 on 5 mg twice a day. His dose was increased to 7.5 mg twice a day and his T4 went down to 4.7. Dose was increased to 8.75 mg twice a day and his level went down to 4.2. My vet said she was comfortable with this level and wants to keep him on this dose for now because he is close to the maximum dose of methimazole - she said the maximum is 20 mg per day. I am just curious if you agree with this dosage? Also, do you ever recommend putting any of your cat clients on milk thistle as a precaution due to the potential harmful effects of methimazole on the liver? Thank you for your most informative site!Karin N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01988370036229843325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-75162182723293185242016-09-21T07:04:51.944-04:002016-09-21T07:04:51.944-04:00If you haven't already done so, I'd measur...If you haven't already done so, I'd measure blood pressure and do a good eye exam to make sure that his eyes are ok. A referral to an neurologist would be the best plan. This isn't likely related to the y/d or directly to the hyperthyroidism (other than possible secondary hypertension). In any case, this is serious and you cat needs a workup.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-42319920642165380532016-09-19T23:52:02.715-04:002016-09-19T23:52:02.715-04:00Hello,
My 13 year old cat has this year been diagn...Hello,<br />My 13 year old cat has this year been diagnosed with the thyroid disorder and it was recommended to feed the Hill's diet to him. A few months later on this diet, while his thyroid is maintained, he is not himself at all, and recently lost weight, is lethargic and zombie like. His pupils are dilated constantly. I just had him at the emerg today and everything was pretty normal and thus points to neurological issues, as his pupils are not responsive and he is sensitive to touch on certain areas of his body. I worry that the low protein diet has contributed to this. He has always been a robust eater and a large cat - muscular and 30lbs in his prime. I wondered if you had heard of nerve problems related to protein deficiency. I didn't feel 100% about using the YD exclusive diet but obviously for financial reasons it was the choice we went with. I am still considering the radiation but now we have to deal with this neurological issue first. Any insights would be helpful as I believe he still has a lot of years left in him. :)<br /> anarchylanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02972204366119257581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-69072069265300675962016-08-15T11:10:08.454-04:002016-08-15T11:10:08.454-04:00Most cats on y/d are not completely controlled so ...Most cats on y/d are not completely controlled so your vet might want to measure a free T4 (together with the total T4) on your next recheck. Do you really want to feed this diet for the rest of your cat's life? That could be many years at only 8 years of age...Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-79566575622722136572016-08-15T10:48:46.177-04:002016-08-15T10:48:46.177-04:00Oh wow! This was so awesome to read! I have a ques...Oh wow! This was so awesome to read! I have a question! My cat (8 years old) is currently on the y/d Hills pellets and soft food cans. She is super overweight though (which is odd to me because most people complain of cats being too skinny with hyperthyroidism) but the vet said it is because we were able to catch this relatively early on before it got to the point of her losing weight. Her initial T4 level was 93 and it went down to 23 in about a month and a half, so we are so happy about that. However, with her hyperthyroidism came some behavioral issues that have not cleared up as the T4 levels went down so now we aren't sure if they're behavioral or her trying to tell us something. She constantly cleans stuff, herself, our poor other cat who is super stressed from constantly being groomed (and has lost 1,5kg's in two months cause of this), and our hands too. We are a very clean family, haha, but I am worried about our other cat who is stressed by the cleaning. Another behavioral thing we noticed is she became very vocal and still does a trilling cat sound pretty m constantly and meows often sounding very distressed. We don't know what to do! If you have any advice please let us know. Megan Ropphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17016720319816554586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-80328361356783033332016-08-11T09:52:31.126-04:002016-08-11T09:52:31.126-04:00Sorry, I don't use the drug so I don't kno...Sorry, I don't use the drug so I don't know.Dr. Mark E. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10804290441832222507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020386515354656609.post-4083152215404437572016-08-11T05:31:53.582-04:002016-08-11T05:31:53.582-04:00Hi Dr. Peterson. Rico was switched to methimazol...Hi Dr. Peterson. Rico was switched to methimazole tablets 2.5 mg twice a day to start. She started him back on the lowest dose when he waa switched from the transdermal with a t4 due in two weeks which is due Monday. He seemed to be doing ok but last night he was lying in my home office (which is a little warmer than the rest of the house but wasn't overly warm) & he started panting. I took him to a cooler room & his breathing improved after awhile. He has also been having episodes of diarrhea. He was given a sub q injection of Buprenex yesterday for his mouth pain. In researching the drug I read that it is contraindicated in cats that have thyroid problems but another site said contraindicated in cats with an underactive thyroid. My vet assured me it is safe to give. Of course I trust her but was just wondering what you thought about all of this?Karin N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01988370036229843325noreply@blogger.com