overactive tyroid

Question
QUESTION: My cat is 15 years old - she has always been fat until the last couple of years she has lost a significant amount of weight.  She has always loved to eat.  Now she is skinny and wants to eat constantly - You can not walk in the kitchen without her following you meowing and tripping you, until your feed her.  I feed her spoon fulls of wet cat food several times a day - Dry food is left out, but she is not real interested in it.  No matter how much wet food I give her, she will be back 10 minutes later acting hungry again -  I would say it is just bad behavior, but she is skinny.       I have been told (by other cat owners) that she has an overactive thyroid  -  What is the consequences of not getting her on medication -  I heard the medication can have worse effects then the overactive thyroid.     Besides the eating thing my cat seems healthy, happy, loving and content   - Do you think I should just leave it alone and let her live out the rest of her life as we have or treatment?

ANSWER: Hi Nancy - this is hard to say, I have some cat clients that are 18,19, and 20 years old... Your cat kid could have another 5 years or so???  Sounds like she could have a number of things going on.
I understand if you don't want to give conventional medications because of the possible side effects.

You can try a few supplements to help her - all safe and natural:

Here goes:

First , give her some canned pumpkin - 1x per day ( 1 heaping teaspoon full) - good calories and fiber..

Next, Please get the NuVET feline - this is a Cat Supplement that will help Blast the immune system and also help with Digestion.
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html
NuVET Feline is a powder you mix into the food just 1 x per day.

Pick up the dry food - don't give any more - Just do Wet food -
Try to get a good quality like Solid gold, Innova, Wellness Formula or Eagle Pack....only feed wet from now on.

Add some Salmon oil to the food - just 1 teaspoon per day



I sure hope my suggestions help your cat kid..


Marie Peppers LPN MA

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: gosh I hope my cat does live to be 20 - she is the best - but my follow up question is - I have her sister as well and I leave the dry food for her, that is all she will eat go figure-  but why did you want me to pick up the dry?

Thank you - I will try the other suggetions!

Answer
Hi - Many cats, as they age, get kidney stones and other major problems.  The wet foods are better for a cat when they age.  More water in the wet.  Digests faster and gives them fluids.
If the girl is over 10 yrs old, I would feed them just wet.  You can mix her dry with some wet.... Wet is best ( just my opinion)

Please go her to the Pet Chef - She explains it well...
***she explains why to feed raw turkey-
Don't forget the NuVET feline formula...

This is the Hawaii Pet Chef - You can get some info here for free:

http://www.petchefhawaii.com/homefeeding.htm



The NuVET Feline Formula is here
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html