As promised, Dr. B. called us Monday with the results of some fairly extensive blood work on Old Cat Missy. Turns out, by most measures, she's in very good shape. Test results show liver and kidney function to be good, within expected parameters for an elderly feline, blood cell counts generally good but with an elevated white count — 30 percent over normal. Blood sugar (see below) at 171 is considered under control but the glucosamine was virtually unchanged since the last test… not so good but Dr. B. did not recommend any change. Missy was presenting with some symptoms that concerned us (dehydration, lethargy, occasional vomiting) and one of the tests gave a possible explanation. She has been receiving medication for hyperthyroidism which is very common in old cats. Turns out dosing her, as prescribed, with the medication, methimazole, had driven her into hypothyroidism with measured level of .4. (Normal range coming…) Testing hadn't been done on thyroid levels since spring. So Dr. B. ordered her meds to be cut literally and figuratively in half (cut them little pills) and we're to watch and see how it goes and call him back in one week. So the tale of the ancient feline continues….

Read and post comments | Send to a friend