I have a question for those of you that have gone through with having a hyperthyroid cat. Specifically, how quickly did your cat lose weight before being diagnosed with hyperthyroid?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Question For Those With Hyperthyroid Cats
- Thread starter crunchie
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My cat was diagnosed before he started losing weight. He was still a good size. Part of a senior cat blood test.
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For our cat the weight loss was the symptom that sent us to the vet and she was diagnosed about 9 months ago. It came on gradually and I didn't really notice the weight loss for about 2 months before it was obvious. I've since bought a baby scale so I can monitor her in between vet visits. She had lost 3 lbs by the time we got her stabilized with medication. She is a big cat and has been around 16 lbs most of her adult life before she was diagnosed.
A friend's cat was hyperthyroid. More noticeable, at first, than the weight loss was the constant water drinking. His water dish would be empty when they got home from work. He did eventually start to look noticeably thinner, but it was gradual and took a while to really see it. Once he was started on medication, his weight stabilized.
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last year in September, but she had already lost much weight since April/May.
In my case, though, my cat lost weight because she wasn't eating anymore, or she was eating much less.
She had an uncommon kind of HT, called apathetic, which even if it's HT, it gives symptoms consistent with HYPO-thyroidism, that is decreased appetite, decreased thirst, quietness.
The decreased sense of hunger took her to lose weight.
So, to answer your question, my cat looked thinner about 4-5 months before she was diagnosed, but because she was rather "round", she could have been HT even before that.
In my case, though, my cat lost weight because she wasn't eating anymore, or she was eating much less.
She had an uncommon kind of HT, called apathetic, which even if it's HT, it gives symptoms consistent with HYPO-thyroidism, that is decreased appetite, decreased thirst, quietness.
The decreased sense of hunger took her to lose weight.
So, to answer your question, my cat looked thinner about 4-5 months before she was diagnosed, but because she was rather "round", she could have been HT even before that.
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Hi everyone and thanks to those of you that replied. I took my cat in last week for her blood work and just heard back from the vet that she has tested positive for HT. It wasn't really a surprise as she was borderline for HT last Feb which was found from her blood work then.
I thought that she was getting thinner, but when I took her in her weight was basically the same so I think I caught it early. The other indicator was her personality change....much more vocal and needy.
I've read enough about it and have already decided to to the Radiation Therapy route. My cat is one that would not suffer ongoing pilling...and neither am I.
Going in to talk to the vet tomorrow and pick up a litter to collect urine and discuss.
I thought that she was getting thinner, but when I took her in her weight was basically the same so I think I caught it early. The other indicator was her personality change....much more vocal and needy.
I've read enough about it and have already decided to to the Radiation Therapy route. My cat is one that would not suffer ongoing pilling...and neither am I.
Going in to talk to the vet tomorrow and pick up a litter to collect urine and discuss.
Very good, please let us know what your vet wil tell you.
