Jasper's thyroid meds and diet

Jasper is 7 and the thyroid levels are still creeping up despite the meds. He's a tabby and very particular about routine. I'm wondering if we should adjust the diet or the timing. Any thoughts on managing the symptoms better?

Hello Jenny. I am sorry to hear Jasper is having trouble. My Luna is also 7 and a bit of a picky eater, so I understand the stress of trying to change things. Have you tried warming the food up? It helps Luna accept new textures sometimes. Luna refuses all wet food had some good tips on warming food.

Thanks Denise. We tried that but he just turns away. I think the issue might be the meds themselves. He sometimes spits them out. Jasper vomits after his pill is similar to what we are seeing. I need to know if I should switch to a different formulation or just stick with the diet.

I am not sure about the diet, but I have seen some success with consistency. Milo is 12 and has hip arthritis, so we had to be very careful with his routine when we started his joint meds. Helping Milo with his hips talks a lot about how sudden changes can cause stress. Maybe Jasper needs a slower transition to the new diet if that is the plan?

hey i am just working the night shift so i am tired. my cat smoky is 6 and has hairballs but i read that thyroid issues can cause stomach problems too. is it possible jasper is just nauseous from the meds and not the diet? i ask because i have to manage smokys hairballs and it is hard to tell if it is food or meds. Bringing Bob home was about stress but i think meds are a bigger factor here?

Donna, good point. The nausea is a real possibility. I checked the lab work we did last month. What to check after starting thyroid meds suggests looking at the T4 levels specifically. If the meds are working, the levels should drop. We need to see if the diet is actually helping the symptoms or if the meds are just causing the vomiting.

Perhaps you should look at the older discussion about timing. Best time to give methimazole argued this out at length. I recall someone saying that giving it with a specific meal helped reduce the vomiting. It might be worth trying that before changing the diet entirely. Dietary control for hyperthyroid cats is also relevant if you decide to go that route.