My cat's gaining weight on thyroid meds. Is she overmedicated?

Hi there. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism generally include things like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive vocalization, and increased appetite or thirst. I would tend to agree with your veterinarian that if your kitty is not losing weight or having any other symptoms of a problem, there is no reason to change his medication dosage - although an increase may be needed in the future if he starts to have symptoms again.

If Rockie's thyroid level is controlled, then his weight should remain stable. There is a special diet for treating hyperthyroidism, but it is used instead of medication NOT in addition to treatment. I am attaching more information about it below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3348 If Rockie is still eating more than normal and losing weight, then his thyroid level may not be controlled yet, so it would be worth rechecking that blood value. You can certainly discuss a diet change with your veterinarian. If Rockie is on an adult food, he may do better on a senior food. And if he is on a dry food, he may do better on a canned food. Both of those changes may help him maintain his muscle mass. But I suspect that making sure his thyroid level is controlled should be your first step. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

The thyroid level can change in a month, especially if Dewey’s previous thyroid level was towards the middle of the normal range. There are also some other more specific tests that can be positive before the total thyroid hormone level increases. A few other diseases that can cause weight loss with a normal appetite include intestinal parasites, diabetes or occasionally certain types of cancer. If Dewey is continuing to lose weight I would recommend rechecking with your vet.

First, I would discuss your concerns with your vet and advise them that Tiffy is still showing signs of being hyperthyroid. Also remember that it will take at least 2-3 weeks for blood levels to change and clinical signs can take a while to improve once blood levels improve. It is most common to give the medication twice daily, but some people do give it once daily. So, if they have been on their current dose for more than 6 weeks without any improvement in their clinical signs, I would recommend discussing it with your veterinarian and discussing if increasing the dose or the frequency of the medication makes the most sense for your kitties. Good luck! I hope you can get your kitties feeling better, and i hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Older cats like your kitty often get an overactive thyroid which will show weight loss, a really fast heart rate, sometimes vomiting, and more vocalisation than usual. Some cats get skittish as well. Hyperthyroidism can actually cause heart problems and mask kidney disease. Hyperthyroidism is easily diagnosed with a clinical exam and a little blood test and there are various treatments available, varying from Methimazole transdermal ointment or tablets to slow down thyroid hormone production, surgery to remove the overactive thyroid gland or radiotherapy. If your kitty is suffering from hyperthyroidism your vet will discuss the various options. I suggest you make an appointment tomorrow.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Symptoms of hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) in cats are: weight LOSS not gain, increased thirst and urination, increased hunger and vocalizing especially at night. They can have heart murmurs and arrhythmia. The side effects on not treating is heart disease and weight loss. I recommend treating if her T4 is above the high end of the reference range. Please feel free to post her blood work results. I hope this helps and I wish Sofi the best!

The first thing I would ask myself in these sorts of situations is if there is ANY POSSIBLE WAY he is getting food from any other sources. This can include other people, hunting, scavenging on the ground, the garbage, etc etc. If this is not possible, then he may just have a slower metabolism that a cat normally would for this young of an age. You are right in saying that hypothyroidism is rare in cats, to the point where I have not really ever met someone who has diagnosed this without the help of a surgical complication. There are other metabolic disorders and organ dysfunction that can result in weight gain, all of which would require further investigating with your regular veterinarian or through an internal medicine specialist. Hope this makes sense.