The vet rang me back yesterday afternoon with the blood test results and it was as I thought, Willow has a thyroid problem.
Luckily it can be put right with medicines.
Hopefully this will sort out the legs.
I have read that the thyroid can affect the heart, it can cause small blood clots that can make the back legs go so am hoping it will put her right.
We are taking Mummy Polly up to see them tomorrow to get her claws cut and will pick up the medicines then.
Has anyone else had a cat with this problem and if so how long does it take for the medicines to work?
The meds are not cheap but if they work the vet is willing to give me the prescription so that I can buy it cheaper online, I thought this was good of him. He will recommend a good site for this.
Phew!! I was worried that she would have to go to sleepy byes.
She will have another blood check in 3 weeks time to see if they are working.
Another 'event' over.
So pleased your lovely Willow can be sorted out Briony - you have had such an ordeal recently.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about cats but I had my thyroid totally removed 15 years ago and am reliant on medication to do the same job as the thyroid and keep me alive. A lot of people have a thyroid that only partially works but need a top up with Thyroxin to help them along and it is probably like this for Willow. The thyroid works on many levels and does affect metabolism which includes the rate of digestion and can affect heart and bones and many other things so it is important to get the levels right and keep checking them (a bit like diabetics but not a daily check - usually about every 3 months). I can tell myself now when my levels are under or over before having a blood test but of course Willow cannot tell you how she feels but you might start to notice if she looks off colour again. The thyroxin builds up over time in the body so if they are saying that they will check again in 3 weeks my guess is that you should see signs of improvement by then - in humans it can take a few months to get everything working well again and feel quite well in yourself - it may be a much shorter period for a cat. I expect there will be many bloggers whose cat has the same problem and can offer advice and in the meantime I am sure you will give Willow lots of hugs to help her feel better quicker!
this is good news, so happy for Willow and for you.. prayers the meds will work
ReplyDeleteWillow is so beautiful and we are soooo glad that there is some medicine that should help.
ReplyDeleteSo relived for you, they bounce back quickly, so hopefully he will be back to himself soon and giving you the love you need. Marlene at Poppypatchwork
ReplyDeleteI hope that the medicines work for Willow. In my life I have had three cats - Oscar, Blizzard and Boris. They never had anything like the condition you describe so I am unable to supply worthwhile advice.
ReplyDeleteMy dear cat, Teasel, is also 15--and I notice her slowing down, not as easy for her to jump onto the bed. We have over the years lost younger cats to genetic conditions that couldn't be cured. The relatively short lives of cats and dogs is the downside of enjoying their company. I'm sorry you are faced with this worry so soon after losing Tom.
ReplyDeleteThat’s good news. I hope the medicine will act quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it was good news for you, your cats are identical to the bunch I had - must send you photo's sometime. I loved all 6 of them for 15 to 20 years before we had to say goodbye, glad you still have most of yours to comfort you - love and hugs, Elaine (Portsmouth)
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry Briony, not something I do. E
DeleteBriony, forgot to say, take a look at Copper Fox blog - super kitties, makes me smile xx Elaine
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that it was something that can be controlled with medication.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of thyroid problems causing this! It seems so unrelated. Well,thank goodness for good vets!
ReplyDeleteThat's good news, hope Willow improves quickly now she's on medication.
ReplyDeleteOne of our cats was diagnosed with a thyroid condition about two months ago. She had lost quite a bit of weight and was incredibly hungry all the time. She was given Felimazole tablets. We started with 2 tablets a day, but had her blood checked after 6 weeks and they cut her down to 1 tablet a day. And she had gained over a pound - looks so much healthier. So the medication worked quite quickly. The vet explained that thyroid conditions are not rare in older cats and most have an overactive thyroid, like our girl did. Hope the medication your vet prescribed does the trick and Willow is feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news and so good of the vet to suggest buying cheaper on line. Hugs to Willow and you.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you had already figured this out! And I'm glad there is a helpful medication for this. Good luck with the pilling; before you know it, it will be part of the routine. I haven't had a cat with this problem so I can't help with your question, but it does make sense that if you were asked to return for blood work in three weeks that it could be fully working by then. xx
ReplyDeleteP.S. What a sweet kitten picture of Willow :)
ReplyDeleteThat is good news. I hope those tablets get to work quickly. Xx
ReplyDeleteSorry I am only now seeing this post. I had a cat with thyroid issues -- an overactive thyroid -- and she got a treatment that involved administering a tiny quantity of radioactive iodine, which is taken up by the thyroid, leaving it less active. It sounds harsh but it's actually quite miraculous and the cat feels nothing. The downside -- it's an expensive treatment, or at least it was when my cat got it in 2006 or so. But it eliminates the need for medication.
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