July 2010 - Amber Langley
Amber's ups and downs
Amber is a 14 year old tortoiseshell domestic short hair, loving friendly little cat who has suffering with a metabolic condition, hyperthyroidism, which is common in older cats.
Amber’s problems began in January when her owners noticed she was losing weight and her fluid intake had increased. On examination she seemed well in her self with a slightly increased heart rate but nothing to suggest why she was losing weight. The vet decided to take a blood sample to check for conditions such as renal failure, hyperthyroidism and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) which may be the cause of her weight loss. The blood sample would be run in the practice allowing the vet to have the results the same day.
The blood results revealed that Amber was indeed suffering from a condition called hyperthyroidism, this is a metabolic condition which means the thyroid gland is over active, causing high levels of the thyroid hormones causing symptoms such as weight loss, aggression, increased appetite and increased water intake. This condition can be managed in two ways, one of which is to place the cat on to tablets to reduce the production of the thyroid hormones or the thyroid gland can be surgically removed. Amber’s owners were given the option of both these treatments and they decided to medicate Amber.
Amber was given one tablet once daily for the following 3 weeks and a blood sample was then taken. The blood results showed that Amber’s thyroid hormone levels were now normal. The medication was change to a lower maintenance dose and to be given once daily. She again was to be re blood sampled in three weeks time.
Most cats at this point have stabilised and the maintenance dose is continued. However, on her next visit, her owner reported that she had developed a habit of licking the bedding and the carpet, her heart rate had also increased, despite her blood results again showing her thyroid hormone levels were normal, she was still showing all the signs of being hyperthyroid. The vet decided to place Amber back onto the higher dose of medication with instructions to change back to the lower dose if vomiting began. Amber improved greatly on this dose, her heart rate decreased, weight increased slightly and had suffered no vomiting. More bloods were taken, these results showed that Amber’s thyroid hormone levels were extremely low, the bloods were also sent to an external lab to verify this unusually low reading. In the meantime Amber was placed back onto the lower dose medication.
The lab results showed that the thyroid hormone readings were indeed correct and that Amber was hypothyroid, so Amber was placed onto the lower dose medication every other day and blood tested 3 weeks later. At this point Amber’s general demeanour had improved and she had gained weight, her heart rate had decreased and she was a happy little cat again.
Three weeks later, Amber’s blood was tested again and she had become hyperthyroid again. This pattern repeated again – daily treatment was too much, every other day treatment not enough. The vet then contacted the drug manufacturer to discuss this unusual case. They suggested to try giving the tablets daily but 2 hours before food, as this would reduce the amount of drug absorbed.
Amber’s owners found this regime too difficult to implement as their other cat, Shelly, is currently undergoing stabilisation for diabetes mellitus, who needs her meals to be given at a certain time. Her owners suggested that they could give the tablets every 36 hours. This was tried for 3 weeks and the next blood test showed normal thyroid hormone levels.
Amber now has a calendar dedicated to her treatment, to enable her owners to carefully record tablet administration every 36 hours.
