So Tennessee's vet just called, and his lab work show he's just barely into hyper-thyroid territory. So he'll be starting on some low-dose daily meds.
But this could explain why he's seemed hungrier than usual (without putting on weight) and why he's vomiting fairly often lately (just a tiny bit every time). It might also explain the heart issues noted in his exam yesterday.
He's over 17 now, so having some medical issues pop up is not unexpected. He still seems like a happy, contented boy.
@jeridansky Maybe nothing, but you might want to see if washing out and drying his water bowl daily before refilling helps reduce the vomiting. (Seemed to help one of ours that passed away last year.)
New cat waves “hi!”
@iDGS I do wash out and refill his water bowls daily, but I haven't been drying them before refilling. I'll give that a try. Can't hurt!
Sorry for the loss of one of yours. May their memory continue to be a blessing.
And the newcomer is gorgeous!
Yeah, thyroid issues could explain a lot - but from what I am understand is fairly easily treatable.
I didn't realize he was 17! Well done, buddy!
One of my cats, Target, who I had...oh goodness, 20+ years ago, he had a slight/mild heart murmur and we just monitored it and it never really changed. I can't remember how old he was when it came up, but he lived many more years with no issues from it.
@jeridansky Does Tennessee ever get mineral oil?
I'm on my third cat (first one lasted 19 years, second 16 years, third is now four years old). A vet recommended mineral oil for hairball prevention for the first cat. I've continued it with the subsequents, and never have puking.
Veg oil sticks hair to intestinal walls, very bad. Mineral oil drags it all the way out with no greasy butt or soft stool. Ask your vet but I cannot recommend it enough.
@Axomamma His vomiting doesn't seem to be caused by hairballs. But I'll still ask the vet about mineral oil.
Yeah, the two cats I had before Tennessee made it to 18 or 19. And the one before that died three days before her 20th birthday.
(There was also the cat I adopted who was an ex-feral who became an indoor/outdoor cat, vs. the entirely indoor cats my others are. I don't know how old he was when he died.)
@jeridansky Yeah, talk to your vet, but they don't even have to vomit up an actual hair ball for the hair to be creating the problem.
First cat I would put her between my knees, open her mouth and pour a measured teaspoon in. Did that for years till I accidentally discovered she'd drink it on her own! Subsequent cats, I just put a tiny bowl next to their food bowl and they consume it as they like. It's like magic. Current cat has never so much as suggested she felt like puking.
@nomdeb Tennessee's pills are super tiny (a small pill to start with, and he only gets 1/4 pill at a time) and he's being good about it. I had an order in for the transdermal version, and I think I'm not even going to bother.
I'll ask my vet about the Radiocat thing the next time I see her, even though I'm fine with our current approach for now.
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