Cat's allergic to herbal med

lucyrima

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Hi - Ecco (15 yr male DSH) is hyperthyroid. Will likely be on vet meds in near future, but for now is on Thyroid Support Gold (PetWellbeing) which is great. However he's sneezing (messy) more and more after few mos. on the stuff, so I stopped it for a couple of days with big return to thyroid issues - but sneezing got better. Put him back on the Gold (whew!) til further notice, but til I can afford the vet (then) wonder if anyone knows what to give an allergic cat... antihistamine? The Gold is made up of lots of diff. herbs, so things make sense, but... Thx if you have any answers.
 
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lucyrima

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No, I found it (TSG) first... but she's aware of it and didn't balk. Thing is, I spoke to the PWB people and they have good meds for his 'hayfever', but they're not recommended if he's hypertensive, which he likely is with hyperthyroidism (I just forget if the vet said his BP was high - was a few wks ago), so I don't want to fool around, plus it's as expensive as the TSG, so I'd rather spend on e.g. the thyroid ear gel or whatever vet says when I go in in a ? couple of wks depending on how he's doing.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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Maybe you could contact the vet before the appt., and check if it would be a good idea to wean him off of the TSG prior to the eventual use of the vet's prescription for him. I am not sure if those two interact in negative ways if used together, so it would be good to check. Plus, if you wean him off TSG before the appt., the vet will be able to see him in his more "natural" health state.
 
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lucyrima

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Good point - it might affect his T4, but he reacted so quickly (2 days) to being off it last week that i don't want to do it again if at all possible... but will consider what you said.
 

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I just forget if the vet said his BP was high - was a few wks ago)
You could check with the vet, and/or get his test results.

Or, rather than eliminating the Gold abruptly, can you gradually decrease it?
Maybe talk to the manufacturer again and/or your vet, since on the one hand it's just a couple weeks but on the other hand he seems to be quite sensitive to the change?
 

Alldara

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Hyperthyroid cats whose thyroids aren't well managed can get sick easily. Are you sure it's not a cold or infection? Lily got those a lot while we figured how much medication she needed.

I'm curious to know why not standard thyroid medication? I used to take her script to a local human pharmacy and paid $75 for 3 months of medicine.
 
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lucyrima

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How long ago was that and where do you live?

Not a cold/infection - been sneezing for too long, but it's gradually become 'more' and messier!
 

neely

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I wasn't sure from your post if he already had a T-4 test or will get it when you see the vet. This is very important in order to not only determine his levels but to get him on the proper medication since Hyperthyroidism can mask other symptoms. Since you mentioned the vet said his BP was high, do you know what it was and did the vet put him on medication to treat it?

Our cat was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism last year and he also had a high BP which is being treated and thankfully under control now. There are many members with H-T cats so if we can be of any help please let us know. Best of luck, please keep us posted on your cat's progress. :alright:
 
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lucyrima

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Thank you - nice letter! Had the T4 maybe 6 wks ago but only after being on the Gold x 10 days, so it was lowish normal (and I since found out that happens anyway even without being on the Gold at all). Will ask re BP tomorrow on phone. Whatever else might be going on (if anything) there's zero question for me that he's HT... zero, so just hope that's all it is FWIW besides the 'hayfever'. Glad yours is OK now!
 

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How long ago was that and where do you live?

Not a cold/infection - been sneezing for too long, but it's gradually become 'more' and messier!
No. If it's become more and more messier, the vet definitely needs to take a swab for infection.

Near Lily's end of life, we could not keep her hyperthyroid controlled. She caught an infection and sneezed for 9 months. It became messier and meds would make it stop and then the vet would stop meds and it would start again. (We don't go to that vet anymore) She developed an ear infection from having a low immune system from hyperthyroid -- such a rarity for cats that the vet refused to believe it at first.

Length of time for sneezing does not rule out infection. It can start with allergies or a virus and then they can gain a secondary bacterial or fungal infection from their lowered immune system.

With a fungal infection the discharge can still be clear, especially as the infection travels back along the sinuses.

I would very much recommend that if your vet appointment is not within the next couple of days that you call and see if, due to the sneezing, your vet can move it up.

I very unfortunately spent 2019 to 2020 with this issue with my late hyperthyroid cat. I absolutely cannot express to you how easy it is for them to gain a URI primary or secondary infection if their thyroid is not managed. On medication they should have bloodwork every 3 months as the thyroid changes. Over time the thyroid will increase activity and medication needs increased.
 

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How long ago was that and where do you live?

Not a cold/infection - been sneezing for too long, but it's gradually become 'more' and messier!
2020 August was when I last purchased medication for her. I shopped around at different human pharmacies in the Canadian city I live in. I. The US you can order medication online for less expensive as well.

It depends on the dosage too. If your cat gets half a pill twice a day it will last longer. Lily was up to 1 pill twice a day in 2020. The ear cream will be more expensive, but if you have a difficult to pill cat it could be good. Kitten Lady on YouTube has pilling videos. I used a Churu treat and it went smoothly. She only ate pill pockets for one week.
 
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lucyrima

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Hi, and thx. Just made appt for Wed 15th - and realized he last saw vet in late Jan. (my memory needs a kick). He is 'indoor' (tho' used to leash-walk in past) and no other animals here to catch ? from. Not concerned so much re med cost as vet visits. The sneezing is not at all new - just as concerned re daily crouch-regurg. type 'cough' etc. of long duration, but testing so expensive - i.e. endoscopy (not done). Will see what happens next wk and let you know. Thanks for concern all!
 

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Hi, and thx. Just made appt for Wed 15th - and realized he last saw vet in late Jan. (my memory needs a kick). He is 'indoor' (tho' used to leash-walk in past) and no other animals here to catch ? from. Not concerned so much re med cost as vet visits. The sneezing is not at all new - just as concerned re daily crouch-regurg. type 'cough' etc. of long duration, but testing so expensive - i.e. endoscopy (not done). Will see what happens next wk and let you know. Thanks for concern all!
Hope all goes well! Keep us posted.
 
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