I just recently received satellite radio (in my car only) and started listening to your program. I appreciate all your concern in regards to cats, and wish I could listen to you everyday.
My little 11-year-old female, Scout, has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She was vomiting for about a month and down to 6.5 lbs. (down from 11 lbs. a few years ago) when I finally took her to my vet. She gained a whole pound in 5 months after being on medication (.25ml of methimazole in the a.m. and .5ml in the p.m.). In the last 2 weeks, I’ve put all my 3 cats on wet food (store brands you recommended) and took them off of the dry “kitty-crack” (Scout’s brother, Addicus, is a big boy so I’m hoping he’ll lose a little weight on the wet food). Scout did fine last week on the wet food, but now has vomited 2 days in a row. My question(s): Is there an alternative to giving her the methimazole that the vet says she will need for the rest of her days? Do you have any suggestions for the vomiting issue?
I really don’t want to see her waste away again and you seem to be in the “know” when it comes to our furry friends’ health. I hope this is enough info for your response…
Thank you in advance for your answer and thank you for caring so much,
Rhonda in Washougal, WA
Dear Rhonda- So sorry to have taken so long to get back to you because I know you have an urgent medical situation with your kitty Scout. I was trying to get an answer from Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of CAT CHAT®, but she has been traveling. Only now did I realize that you need to get a copy of her book YOUR CAT right away – there is a whole chapter on hyperthyroidism that will help you understand it – and also help you get Scout off of medication. Dr. Elizabeth has her own page on my website and you can click right there to buy the book – which is now in paperback and very affordable. That medication, and the hyperthyroidism itself, can cause gastrointestinal upsets, so the sooner you follow Dr. Hodgkins’ advice in her book, the sooner Scout will be on the mend.
However, I will tell you that one of my most devoted listeners on CAT CHAT® is Michelle in Chicago and when her pussycat Samson had a bad stomach she went to the Spirit Essences page of my website and ordered the Essence called Happy Tummy. These are holistic remedies based on the Bach flower essences (like Rescue Remedy for people) and Michelle said it really fixed Samson’s stomach problems. There is also an immune system booster in the Spirit Essences and Scout is going through some difficult physical challenges and can use any help you can give her. And please let me know whether YOUR CAT answered your questions and whether the Spirit Essences made a difference. Good luck to you!
P.S. If you have SiriusXM radio in your car then you automatically have it in your house, too! You can use your computer as a “radio” by going to the Sirius website, getting a password (any subscriber can get one) and then you can listen to anything on the channel from your computer (but especially CAT CHAT®!)
Tracie
