If you missed my previous post about my cat Max and the issues I had in getting a true diagnosis of HyperThyroidism, please read it here: T3 Suppresion Test For My Cat Max.

Maxxy had his follow up bloodwork and checkup 6 weeks after he was finally diagnosed with HyperThyroidism and started on the Tapazole and almost everything looked good! We were concerned that treating his thyroid might exasberate his kidney issues but one of kidney levels stayed the same and one actually decreased. So that was really good news! We also retested his thyroid using the T4 and it was within normal ranges. Although it was within normal range before when he was definitely HyperThyroid, but the reason we checked it was to make sure he wasn’t going HypoThyroid due to the meds but he seems to be on a good dosage. One of his liver values were quite high, higher than it has been in the past, so that’s a bit worrisome but I’m keeping an eye on him and so far I don’t see any signs of liver problems.

[caption id="attachment_1263" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Mysterious Max"][/caption]Overall Max seems to be feeling better since being put on the Tapazole but I was hoping for even more positive changes. The positive changes I have noticed are that he’s seeking attention and coming upstairs once again, which he had stopped doing when he was feeling really crappy. That in itself is a big change but I guess I was hoping for more, such as gaining some weight back etc. I did recently start Max on a Standard Process supplement called Thytrophin PMG just to help support his thyroid and to hopefully make him feel a bit better. It’s a safe supplement to use in conjuction with the Tapazole medication.

What I think Max really needs now in order to feel even better is some relief from his arthritic pain. He’s a very sore and stiff boy. He’s been taking Tramadol for pain for a while now but I know he could use more than that. Tramadol doesn’t do anything for inflammation so the condition is still active and progressing even though I’m trying to control his pain. With cats, you have to be extremely careful when it comes to non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and I try to avoid them at all costs for my cats and even for my dogs. And with Max’s elevated kidney and liver numbers, NSAIDs are contraindicated anyway.

[caption id="attachment_1192" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Beautiful Tiki-Belle"][/caption]I just started my 15 year old cat, Tiki, on Cartrophen Vet to help her with her arthritic pain. Do not confuse this drug with Carprofen (Rimadyl) which is an NSAID and one that I would never use for any of my animals! Cartrophen is a safe alternative to NSAIDs for both dogs and cats. It is in the class of Chondroprotective Drugs. It has great anti inflammatory properties and it actually works to stop the progression of arthritis. I am going to start Max on Cartrophen as well! I’ll write more about Cartrophen in a few days when I post about Tiki and her rehabilitation protocol thus far.

Even though Maxxy is 19 years old, he’s still very active and alert and he deserves to be as pain free as possible. I will do whatever I can to help him so his golden years can be happy years!