Ali and Feline Hyperthyroidism

Good evening everyone! I hope all has been well! Things have been more than crazy at MCP recently. Not only have I been slammed at the hospital with COVID-19, but home life has also been a bit crazy too.

Last month my beloved Ali was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The past few months I had been noticing subtle changes with Ali but my gut was telling me she needed to visit with Dr. Berry. Ali is hitting 10 this month so after 9 1/2 years together, I was ready to do anything and everything possible to make sure she continues with a healthy life. Luckily it was something as simple at a thyroid issue and with some meds, she can get back on the right track.

Ali came into my life in 2010 and from the moment I met her, I knew she was destined to be with me forever. She had shown up at the dealership I was working at and she had the most amazing personality. I at the time had another cat and was determined to make them coexist. It took some time but after a few weeks, things were much smoother. Here is a VERY old iPhone pic of the day she showed up at my work.

You can see she was a scrawny little thing but that tail was nuts, even back then! Her personality was just the sweetest, most loving feature I have ever seen in a cat. She quickly became my fur baby and overtime, my confidant in life. Anyone who meets Ali falls in love and ready to take her home. She really is the best cat ever!

Things I began to notice with Ali was first the more aggressive playing with Penny. It was never violent or hurtful, just very extreme and frequent which was very unlike her. Again, she is all about cuddles and love. Then I started noticing her coat was as lustrous as it had been but I was wondering if maybe it was just her age and my anxiety combined. Then the constant begging for treats and weight loss is what prompted me to make an appointment. Something just wasn’t right. She was still perky, active, and happy but something was off.

I was, of course, googling like crazy leading up to her appointment and was just sure it was her thyroid. Something treatable and not taking her away anytime soon. When her appointment time came I was on pins and needles and the added COVID-19 precautions made it even worse. I was not allowed in the vet’s office during treatment. They came out to the car to get her and take her in. Over an hour later they came out finally and confirmed my suspicion. The poor thing had her neck shaved so they could take blood from her main vein for the most accurate testing and I would have given anything to be able to cuddle her during this time of stress.

I was very fortunate to have my boyfriend with me keeping me as calm as I could be and giving me some reassuring advice. I have been accused of being over reactive with my pets in the past and it was nice to have someone to support me and understand that it’s okay to overreactive a little. In this case it worked out to her getting on a healthy path.

She started off with a pill twice a day but at her three-week appointment we found she was now hypothyroid and we have cut back to just one pill a day. I must say we have both gotten quite well at the routine. When we first started she went into a tight cat burrito and it was a lot of fuss. Now it’s a quick cuddle, lean back, pill drop, and more cuddles. We are almost pros at this point! Hahaha!

We go back again next week for her next follow up and hopefully, the pills are working and we can go to a three-month stint before the next appointment. I am staying on top of things and as long as no other issues arise, I hope to take her for a radioactive iodine treatment. It’s permeant and no side effects, unlike the pills.

You guys will be seeing more of Ali as I share what life is like with this giant fluff and dealing with her new diagnosis. Maybe hearing from someone living with the experience might help people along. I know I was stressing like crazy and could have used some positive light.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope I have shed a little light on dealing with thyroid issues with your fur babies. I will be sharing more info in the coming weeks and months, so hopefully, this will be a good resource for others. I hope you all have a great evening and I will see you all again soon! <3