QUESTION
Our cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about a year ago. Our vet began treating her with Methimazole transdermal gel. She tolerated it for awhile and put on some weight. (She currently weighs six pounds.) After a few weeks she began having an allergic reaction to the drug. She tore at her ears and the skin around them. The excoriations were quite bad and she was totally miserable. We discontinued the medication and she has been on no further medication over the past 11 months. She is not eating and has been bothered by dental problems. My question is this: Would she have a similar reaction to the methimazole tablet as she did to the transdermal gel? If the answer is yes, do you have any other suggestions? Pamela
ANSWER
Dear Pamela
My treatment of choice for hyperthyroid cats is surgery as the drugs have side-effects, provide a poorer control of the disease and tablets are difficult to administer daily. Having had no treatment for 11 months I would be most concerned about your cats renal function as high thyroid hormome levels cause raised blood pressure, decreased kidney profusion and can lead to kidney failure. What I would recommend is blood and urine tests to look at kidney function and then go for surgery.
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