Apr 10, 2012

Two Cats Tuesday: Update on Pimp's Thyroid Stuff

Happy Two Cats Tuesday, Cuteheads! Today Pimp wants to tell you how he did on his test last week. He is a very good student, apparently, because he got great scores!

Last Tuesday I brought him in for his four-week follow-up visit. Remember he was diagnosed with hyperthyroid and we decided to treat it with the special Hill's Prescription Diet y/d food?

His initial levels when we first started the food where at 11.1. The V-E-T said this number was off the chart! Normal levels are between 0.8 and 4.0. The special food (as long as it's the only thing he eats) is supposed to bring them down pretty quickly -- and he'll have to eat that for life to keep his levels down.

Well, when we went in, she retested his thyroid stuff, and his levels are almost back in the normal range! He tested at 4.5 now... almost there!

I am a genius!

She also wanted to do two other test, just to make sure there weren't any underlying kidney problems (these can be masked by the high metabolism caused by hyperthyroid). He took one of those tests and passed with flying colors (yay!), but there was one more we weren't able to do, because of a little "issue" Pimp had.

See, whenever we go to the vet, poor Pimp always pees in his carrier in the waiting room and then poops in it there to, or right when we get in the examination room. It's just been his routine for the past couple years. So, like the good mom I am, I brought a towel to soak it up in the carrier so he didn't get icky.

Sure enough, he peed (on the towel, yay!) and pooped. I cleaned it all up like a good mom.

And then the vet said she needed a urine sample.

Um, I said as I waved the plastic bag with the pee-soaked towel in it, can you squeeze it out of here? (I was really only half joking.)

She couldn't, and Pimp didn't even have a drop left in his bladder to give her, so we have to get back to that one. He refuses to go in the special non-clumping litter she gave us so I could collect a sample, so it looks like we're taking a car ride to the vet this week -- without the towel. ;)

Paws crossed the pee test comes back great, too!

45 comments:

  1. You keep up the good work Pimp, and get 100% on your next tests too!!

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  2. Pimp so glad things are looking better, you look soooo handsome in this photo!!  Good health to you and Moo!

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  3. Has Pimp been acting like he feels better?

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  4. That is super news on the levels improving so much already.  Having a special food for thyroid problems is new since my Misty had thyroid problems.     We'll hope all his other tests come  back good too - when you are finally able to get him in.  ha ha  

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  5. Yea, Pimp!! That's always happy news when you get good test results.  I don't blame him for getting scared at the vet--it is not a fun place to go. :(  

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  6. So glad to hear Pimp is on the mend! Way to go, Pimp!! BTW, how's that pee sample coming along?! teehee  And I don't know how I am just now noticing this, but Pimp has fabulous whiskers! :)

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  7. For the pee test, I kept watching my kitty to try and catch her peeing, and when I finally did, I just put a large soup spoon under her butt and collected the pee. Awkard yes, but better than the needle through the bladder!
    I've updated my http://essentialgrain.com/Dogsandcats.htm file since we last chatted, hope you found some info there for Pimp!

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  8. yay Pimp and Dorian - good teamwork! 

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  9. So glad Pimp is okay! I've been wondering how he's doing. Paws crossed for the sample! Hope you're able to get one! :)

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  10. Pimp is doing well, and I am glad he is getting better. His face says it all. As for the Pee that's a tough job - to follow.... am so glad he is getting there!!

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  11. Such a  Sweetheart : )  Bless Him, such a good boy.

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  12. Wonderful news! I'm sending up Pimp prayers little guy. I see from the picture he's not let the whole ordeal affect his dignity.

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  13. All good news to hear!!!  He looks great in this picture!  The two of you need to just keep up the good work.

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  14. He sure is a very regal fellow isn't he? This is good news, 'makes me happy for him and you. All our paws are crossed for more good news to come. 
    X's

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  15. Dorian....I am so glad for the good news!!  BUT.....there HAS to be some other food he can eat.  Hill's y/d food is just corn and soy = bad for kitties.  It will make them fat and diabetic in no time :-(.  It also gives them skin allergies.  It makes me so mad that vet's sell this crap.  I know there is a website for diabetic kitties, one for kidney disease, so there must be one for hyperthyroidism.  In my extensive research, I find that the best diet for cats is a grain-free wet food, chicken or turkey flavor ONLY with the first ingredient being chicken or turkey.  No by-products, corn, soy, wheat, rice, etc. 

    I know how much you love Pimp so I am just passing on info I learned the hard way :-) 

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  16. I am glad he did well. I hope the other test comes out OK

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  17. It looks like the Hill's y/d wet food is quite a bit better than the dry.  Im not sure which one Pimp is eating.

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  18. Good for Pimp that his his thyroid numbers were back in the range of
    normalcy!!! As for wringing Pimp's pee out of the towel, it's
    unfortunate that it couldn't be done ... understandable, with all the
    chemicals out there and not wanting them in *there*.
     

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  19. Yup, I looked at that, too. He gets both, actually, for variety! He has the dry food for breakfast and if he is snacky during the day and for dinner he has the wet version. I noticed the canned y/d has a bit higher protein content, I think. He loves dry food, though, so I give him both. :)

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  20. The vet actually gave us a couple little syringe things so suck some up next time we go in, and in the future. He'll have to be tested again later, too, so we're armed and ready!

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  21. I took this while he was sitting next to my while I was typing the post up. He just *knew* I was talking about him... Hehe.

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  22. He is dignified at all times. Except when he's licking his butt or begging for treats. ;)

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  23. We will, he just won't be happy about it because we're going to have to go for a car ride and either make it all the way to the vet or see if maybe I park somewhere and he thinks "we're there!" and lets loose. Hehe. Poor baby.

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  24. He does! Both Pimp and Moo do, actually. Very whiskery kitties I have here!

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  25. I could, I guess -- someone suggested a small Dixie cup, too. Eeee! I just don't know if I could do it. And I'd be afraid he'd run out of the box trailing pee all over. Haha. 

    I'll take a look, but right now this is all he can eat. I'm just happy it's working! :)

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  26. I know, poor baby. I just go in ready for it now.

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  27. I know! So happy it's so much better already. And way less traumatic than me having to give him medicine every day. ;)

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  28. He was never really acting like anything was wrong, that's the thing. He had lost some weight, so one of the tests the vet did was this, and that's how we found out. Otherwise, he's always acted perfectly normal - he still plays and runs like a kitten sometimes! 

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  29. Pimp says thank you! And that he knows he looks good. MOL!

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  30. I agree - the handsome kittyboy looks great! I'm so glad he's doing well.
    I had to collect urine for the v-e-t once. She gave me a little baggie of little beads (maybe 4 or 5mm in diameters, made of plastic) and a syringe, and told me to get an absolutely clean litterbox and put the beads in it, and to take the regular litter boxes away.
    The instinct kitties have to cover their, um, output is started by the feel of dirt under their paws. My little girl pawed at the beads, decided it was satisfactory, and went. It's all about the feel of it under their pads. My girl did exactly what I told her to do (yeah, sure) and there was no problem at all.
    Maybe you want to talk to the vet about that as an option?
    Good look, cutequeen and the kittyboy.

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  31. Oh - I forgot to ask: How do you keep Pimp and Moo apart when it's dinnertime?
    All of my kitties, for decades, have used wet food as a 'meal' and kibble as a free-choice 24-hr grazing option. They do this at the shelter where I volunteer, too. I've never seen cats who sit down to dinner (consisting of kibble) and just eat their dinner. They all want to save it for later. And they all want to see what each other is eating, too. How are you able to effect this miracle, O queen of cute?

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  32. Yup, that's what the vet gave us. Unfortunately, with both Pimp and Moo here, I have to either keep a super close eye on it at all times or lock Pimp up in the bathroom by himself until he goes -- so I know whose pee it is. I tried that (as she suggested) and it was horrible. Horrible!

    Pimp was miserable and poor Moo was trying to break him out. He kept looking at me like, "MOM! Pimp is STUCK in there and we have to get him out!"

    So I think we're opting for the car ride instead of that drama. I actually lasted an hour, but I couldn't do it to either one anymore... and there's no way Pimp was going to pee with all that stress.

    Cats.

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  33. Wow, that is great Pimp. So glad your thryroid got a little bit better just on food. You are one lucky kitty. We had one that had to take pills twice a day for a bad thyroid.Hope you continue to improve.

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  34. Congratulations Pimp! you're such a handsome boy, Pimp!
    I wish my wonderful Smoky could be cured with food as well. Now for ages I crush a pill in her wet food with great success. Her T4 tests (every 6 months) are always perfect.
    I agree with Linda V.C. that grains/soy are bad for kitties - loaded with carbs. Perhaps you'll follow her advice and talk it through with your vet at your next (wet) visit?

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  35. Very happy to hear that Pimp's on the mend!!! He's very beautiful ...big kiss and hug from our family.

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  36. Three cheers for the Pimpster! Sure hope his last test comes back good!

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  37. Okay, that provided a pretty funny visualization! I use to have to separate my two kitties because one had diabetes and I was supposed to monitor her pee.  No way.  The special diet was bad enough!

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  38. Pimp, we're glad you are doing better!  But as for that urine sample...good luck!  Our mom is trying to get a sample from Zoey right now...can't take her to the vet for the needle thing because she is a She Devil at the vet and would hafta be knocked out for the vet to do anything to her.

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  39. I'm glad to hear Pimp's test results came back good...way to go Pimp!  Would collecting Pimp's pee from the carrier work...is it sterile enough?  Wishing you good luck with the pee test, Pimp!

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  40. Good job Pimp!!! Sammy, Daisy, Puff, Moo & BabyTwo are all proud of you & meowed "Congratulations"!

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  41. Good job Pimp!!! Sammy, Daisy, Puff, Moo & BabyTwo are all proud of you & meowed "Congratulations"!

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  42. Good Job Pimp! Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery!

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  43. Congratulations on doing so well on your test, Pimp! 

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