More Wrenches In Our Summer Plans
They say when it rains it pours and I guess our time to get sloppy wet is now. There’s never a good time in life for bad news, and when you’re living in an RV it’s really no different. Everybody has plans whether they live stationary or not, and those plans can disintegrate on a dime when unexpected “stuff” comes along. I can’t say I like it, but it’s a part of life and as long as I’m present here on earth I do my best to accept it.
Now before you all go into a panic I should say that this particular wrench wasn’t for us, but instead hit our sweet 14-year old kitty, Taggart. Now I fully understand that not everyone is as attached to their pets as we are. The cats have been with us since very early on in our relationship and have traveled (literally) around the world with us. Our paws are our nearest family so anything that affects them also affects us deeply. It’s just how it is in “the beast”, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. That said, I feel like a bad kitty mom in that I missed this particular problem for a while.
What has happened is this…(folks not interested in detailed kitty stuff can skip the rest of this post)
Taggart has been acting more “playful” over the last 6-8 months, almost kitten-like, something I thought was just a reflection of her good diet and healthy outdoor walks. Who doesn’t admire a playful 14 year old gal? I didn’t actually realize anything was wrong until she started loosing weight despite having a rather ravenous appetite, and honestly I didn’t even notice that until the weight loss was quite significant (several pounds). One day it suddenly clicked, and in the distant recesses of my mind I remembered this was a sign of something I’d read several years ago in my kitty forums (yes, I was a member of several kitty forums and even owned/ran a forum on Feline Urinary Tract Disease for ~4 years = that’s how paw-crazy I am). I knew something was wrong.
So, after Paul flew off to Miami I booked a visit to the vet and got her T4 (thyroxine = thyroid hormone) levels tested. The diagnosis was immediately confirmed. Taggart has hyperthyroidism (= her thyroid gland is over-active). It’s a serious problem that will only get worse over time. Poor little kitty cat!
The result of this is that we have a sick kitty that requires one of either two treatments. Either life-long thyroid meds dosed twice/day which taste horrible, require gloves to handle and have a slew of lovely side-effects (plus they only control/slow down the progression of the condition and don’t cure it) OR/ an expensive radioactive Iodine (I-131) treatment which requires an in-hospital stay of 4-10 days, plus an additional ~15 days of special handling at home due to residual radioactivity, especially the “hot” radioactive pee. Plus, not many clinics offer the treatment aaand do it correctly (such as conducting a thyroid scan prior to treatment, dosing individual to the cat etc.). The latter does however completely cure the problem, assuming kitty is a candidate for treatment.
What a fun choice, right?
We’re honestly not sure what we’re going to do at this point. We’ve started the meds, which is recommended in cases like this to see if the hyper-T has masked any underlying kidney issues (a common problem and something you can only “see” once the thyroid levels come down). Once we know THAT result we’ll know whether kitty is a good candidate for the radioactive treatment, and THEN we’ll decide if we need to drive “the beast” to a clinic, somewhere in this great country, to have the I-131 treatment done.
Phew! New jello plans on top of new jello plans, and all for a kitty! Who knows WHERE we’ll end up this summer?
For the short term we’re just doing the meds, and we’re sticking with our plans to host all June in Cape Disappointment State Park. This will give us time to do any dosage adjustments, if needed (each dosage change needs ~3 weeks to see effects) and monitor her kidney function. Plus we need to stay near a major airport anyway for Paul’s family issues. Then once June is done and (hopefully) all family issue are squared away we can decide on our next move. Where we go from there we do not know.
So, how is Queen Taggart doing so far? Well first few days on the horrible meds were pretty horrible. Kitty was vomiting, nauseous and wouldn’t eat any food (which is a great?!#$ side-effect for a kitty that’s already too thin, right?). I re-joined all my old kitty groups on Yahoo Groups (remember those?) and immediately got feedback that revealed the vet had over-prescribed the thyroid meds, apparently a very, very common mistake. Once I lowered the dose and added some nausea support (Slippery Elm Bark, a fabulous gastro-soothing herb that every pet owner should always have on-hand) kitty did much, much better. We’re going to take it slow and easy, re-test the thyroid and blood values in ~3 weeks and then go from there.
And how are the kitty parents doing? Honestly I’m the kind of person that gets super-analytical and hyper-practical whenever a problem like this comes up. Understand the issue, do the research, make a plan and go from there. I feel terrible that I didn’t catch this earlier, but I’m also determined and Paul feels the same. We’ll just do whatever we need to do. Plus, we have the advantage of wheels. No matter what we can just take our “home” to wherever we need to take care of this. There’s definitely a plus side to being mobile!
So there you go. New wrenches and new, completely unknown plans. Here’s just hoping no other “unexpected” issues crop up this summer. We’re definitely crossing all fingers and 12 paws for that….!
I’m so sorry and I’m the exact same pet parent. I’ll do what it takes for my babies and I research and process in depth. Sending good thought for your poor kitty and her parents
It’s nice to know we’re not the only other crazy paw-people out there! I’m an obsessive researcher whenever stuff like this happens, right down to reading research papers in vet journals. I do the same for human stuff too. Paws crossed Taggart is a candidate for the I-131. I do think it’s the best long-term option.
Nina
We canceled Thanksgiving last year when our beloved dog had a mammary tumor, aggressive form of canine cancer, and surgery was the only option. She had surgery (with margins) the day before US Turkey Day, and she’s six months cancer free today! We researched like crazy, like you, including vet journals. She continues to love on people she meets, and currently puts a smile each morning on the face of a recent widower camped near us. Best $900 we spent. The cancer could come back, but for now, we all are living life to the fullest.
We send you our thoughts and prayers as you seek to love Taggert in the best way possible. Furry hugs to you!
That’s wonderful MoHobyDick! So happy to hear your baby came thro’ the surgery and is still cancer free! I hope you have many, many years of good times ahead with her.
Nina
Dear libertatemoma
Dear Nina
I thoroughly enjoy reading about your adventures… and hope for the best for the cat and the family issues as well.
Is it possible to reach you to ask a few timely and pertinent questions? I would very much appreciate your thoughts based upon your experience and knowledge. Tha k you so much in advance.
We completely changed our plans last summer when Nikki had her gall bladder issue, so I totally get it. We’d do anything for our pets too. Question about Taggart’s meds – are they oral? As I mentioned earlier, my sister’s cat was hyperthyroid and she chose the meds, but his meds were topical – she rubbed it on his ears twice a day. Also required the gloves, but he had zero side effects. Is that an option for Taggart’s?
Currently we’re doing the oral meds. The transdermal gel is another option, especially for kitties that have gastrointestinal reactions to the pills, and we may well resort to that if the oral pills don’t work out. That said, unfortunately either version of the meds can cause side-effects. The gel can potentially eliminate *some* of the gastro-problems, but methimazole can still cause nausea, vomiting, facial excoriation, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia etc. Plus it’s hard on the liver over time. They’re just horrible meds, no matter what.
Nina
It may be worth a shot – Tracey’s cat did very, very well on the topical. No problems with it at all. Of course every cat probably responds differently. I hope you figure out something that works well for her! We have the opposite issue now with Nikki – she’s hypothyroid. Still working out things with her treatment.
Yeah, several of the kitties on my various kitty forums are using the gel. We may look at it if Taggart isn’t an I-131 candidate. The gel does seem easier (in general) to give. Sourcing good compounding pharmacies may be tricky (on the road), but we’ll deal w/ that step if/when we get to it.
By the way going hypothyroid is actually a potential side-effect of doing the I-131 treatment, especially if it’s not dosed absolutely correctly. It can be tricky to manage too, but the meds are (thankfully) not as horrible as the hyper-T meds. Hopefully you’ll find a good balance for Nikki, and quickly too.
Nina
Yes – Tracey did mention she had to get the gel from a compounding pharmacy – I forgot about that part. It’s not cheap either. She didn’t do the radioactive treatment, because she didn’t think her cat would do well during the isolation period, and she was worried about having a radioactive cat in her house with her kids, even though it would only be temporary. You’re right though – no easy answer unfortunately. Nikki’s meds are easier to handle, she just has so many other issues it’s a delicate balancing act. Keep us posted – will keep Taggart in our thoughts.
Diamondback pharmacy in Phoenix was compounding Dylan’s chemo and would send it to us anywhere needed. They worked well for us. Just an FYI in case you need a recommendation for later.
Very good tip! Having a solid, reliable (and mobile-friendly) source for the gel would make that option so much easier. Thanks!
Nina
We get eye drops for our dog shipped to us via UPS from Roadrunner Pharmacy in north Phoenix, AZ. We’re very happy with their service (been almost a year). They include a new toy with each shipment Very kind staff on the phone as well.
http://www.roadrunnerpharmacy.com
Ph: 877-518-4589
We had a beautiful 15 year old cat who developed hyperthyroidism and did very well on the tiny pills (put it in her favorite furball gel). No side effects (she lived to be 18, died from kidney disease, but had a relatively easy time overall). It was some years ago and no one said to use gloves. Guess I’ve survived. Maybe I can blame slow weight loss on that?
That said, I love Roadrunner pharmacy! Those guys are not only good at what they do, they’re nice and friendly, too. Would be great on the road. Somewhat expensive, but worth it. I would also suspect that transdermal would tend more to bypass the liver.
Best wishes to you and your fur babies!
Sorry to read of your sick kitty. Hugs.
Nina,
So sorry to here about your sick Cat. our animals are our lifeblood (3 border collies and 1 cat)
Our last cat (Indie) – got Kidney failure and the vets suggested we put her down. I got on the Alt.Cat. Fan forums and learned that if we were willing to give her an IV every day we could give her a little bit longer life. She was able to stay with us for 3 more years and I am so glad we did it.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help,
I’m so with you. There’s lots we can do to give our pets happy and long lives, especially with a little help. If I’d listened to my vet 7 years ago regarding Rand’s urinary issues she would have been euthanized. Thankfully I did my own research, eventually figured out a way to resolve the issue and Rand has been perfectly healthy ever since. It’s what prompted me to run the FLUTD group for 4 years. I’m so very thankful to all my various groups!
Nina
We would do the same thing for our fuzzy pals. Keep us posted on the progress.
I feel badly for you folks because your Kitty is very ill. However, please consider the humane option of euthanasia because it sounds to me as if the suffering is incompatible with an acceptable quality of life. Would treatments prolong life or prolong death? I experienced something similar with my best friend “Cat One.”
And I cried. I hope that I will have the strength to do the same for myself when my quality of life gets to that point.
Respectfully,
The Loneoutdoorsman
I appreciate the sentiment of your comment, but we’re not at that stage yet. Kitty is sick, but not suffering and if she is a candidate for I-131 we have a cure for the problem. That’s something we will definitely pursue if we can. If/when she gets to the stage that she’s suffering we’ll look at other decisions. But no, we’re near that decision yet, not even close.
Nina
To support what your vet is doing, you might consider essential oils as suggested by Melissa Shelton, a vet.
http://www.animaleo.info/thyrobalance.html
Sorry life is so hard right now.
Thanks much for the support and the link. However I’m VERY wary of using essential oils on cats because their livers lack the ability to properly metabolize the various compounds in essential oils (if you want the specific vet jargon -> they lack the enzyme glucuronyl tranferases which reduces their ability to eliminate compounds through hepatic glucuronidation). It’s a serious problem specific to cats (dogs and humans are different) that is completely ignored by most holistic sites promoting essential oils. For this reason I never use essential oils around cats. Herbs yes (select herbs). Essential oils no.
Nina
Sorry to hear about your cat. I’m afraid we may go through something similar in the near future with our 14yo retired racing sled dog Dakota.
“The best laid plans of mice and men…” right? Plans have to be flexible. We were planning on heading east once our youngest got out of school in June but now my boss has reversed her decision to allow me to work remotely so no travel for us until I can find that elusive remote programming job.
Hope everything works out for you!
So sorry to hear of all your plan changes…and then pet health issues ontop of it all! Hopefully it’ll all work out for you in the end. One step at a time and you’ll get there eventually!
Nina
You are a great kitty mom. I always check out my Aussie group when we have a problem. We are blessed to have a vet that we can call. Sounds like you need a reliable vet. Can Your group help you find one near by? Astoria may be your best bet. Kitty Prayers going your way.
I’m looking around. Thankfully I know the exact tests that I need done, so it’s just a question of finding the vets to do them. If we decide on the I-131 treatment we’ll need to find a facility that specializes in that. Only a few around that do it since they require special handling license (and isolation area) for the radioactive iodine.
Nina
Yep, nothing we wouldn’t do for our Tessa. Poor Taggert with the nasty side effects 🙁 Good to know about the Slippery Elm, will check it out. You’ll certainly have lots to keep you busy while Paul is taking care of other family members. It is indeed good to live a mobile, and flexible life. We’re experiencing similar plan changes around an ill parent so I know how nice it is to have our home with us as we deal with this.
Slippery Elm is a GREAT little herb for stomach soothing. Very mild and safe to use in both cats and dogs. I always keep some powder on-hand and just “cook” it up into a syrup whenever it’s needed.
Nina
You and Paul are the type of parents we strive to be with our furry baby. I really hope Taggert is better soon and these meds work our for her. I’m glad you found out the dosage was to strong and was able to find a natural remedy for the upset stomach.
I’m glad I figured out the dose thing too. Soooo thankful to my kitty groups. We’ll just take it one step at a time from here.
Nina
We SO understand the attachment to fur babies and I am so sorry that Taggart is having some serious issues! The upside for her is that she has parents who love her bunches and will do everything they can to help her feel better! Hugs to all of you!
Was such a delight to meet you and Paul at Blanco. Best wishes to you both in working through the sloppy stuff. 🙂
Cheryl
Yup we’re paw-crazy parents and will do whatever we have to. It was lovely to meet you too Cheryl!
Nina
I hope kitty is doing better today. We travel with two Siberian Huskies and two Himalayan cats. We would go to any length to make one of the “kids” comfortable and feeling better. I understand just what you’re going through.
Thank you. Kitty is on day 5 (or so) of her meds and so far so good. No serious side effects after that first day, and her appetite is back which is a relief. She’s being playful and silly as always.
Siberian Huskies and Himalayan Cats…wow! That’s a lot of fluffy fur in your rig. They must be beautiful, all of them!
Nina
For kitties that don’t eat well.. I used Gerber baby food. The chicken with chicken gravy and beef with beef gravy. They might have turkey too. My kitty had very bad teeth and got infections all the time, so the soft puréed baby food (Gerber 2nd foods in the small baby food jars) he would eat. I feel like when your kitty is sick, you will feed them anything to get them to eat! It’s worth a try…
Yup, I’ve used the Gerber baby food trick before. It’s not a complete food (for kitty) so can’t be used long-term, but it can be a sanity-saver in the short term when kitty is not eating anything else. For whatever reason most cats just love it. Thanks for sharing.
Nina
So sorry to hear about your kitty. Our kitty also had thyroid issues and took pills. Things worked well for awhile, but at her age (18) it started causing her to have more problems. I feel very lucky that we were able to have her 17 years without any major health issues until the end. Hopefully you will have a good outcome with treatment.
17 years of good kitty health is simply amazing! The pills definitely work for a while, but unfortunately don’t cure the problem. It’s not easy on the pet or the parent. I’m glad you got so many good years with your girl, but it’s still never easy when they leave us. I sure wish our pets lived as long as we did!
Nina
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about Taggert! I’ve always loved seeing photos of her enjoying her traveling life. We traveled with our 18-year old kitty for a year and a half, giving her subcutaneous fluids twice daily to manage her kidney disease (and then hormone shots, and antibiotic shots). It was worth it! She was happy being with us and we loved having her with us in our travels. Thinking of you guys and hoping that Taggert feels better soon.
I remember we talked about your lovely gal when we met you on Lopez. She was still with you at that time, and still doing OK although I know you were concerned. What a fabulous and adventurous 18 years she had!
Nina
Sorry, for the misspelling, I meant Taggart. 🙂
Wow, so sorry to hear about your kitty. But I’ll say this, your lovely animals are the luckiest animals on the planet. You are one super pet owner. Wish we all had someone like you looking out for us. I’m very impressed.
We did the iodine treatment. And it did help — for a while. Kidneys started failing shortly after. Had to inject saline under the skin and massage it in twice a day. Kitty was a champ. Recovered beautifully. But shortly after, lung cancer took him. Loved that cat. 🙂
Oh that’s so, so tough. Sadly, hyper-T can often “hide” kidney issues which won’t show up until the thyroid is resolved. It’s one of the reasons we’re doing a trail with the meds first. So very sorry your kitty had it so tough in the end 🙁 Sounds like he/she had a wonderful life and very caring parents.
Nina
It is so hard with our furry family members when they get sick. They can’t tell you what’s wrong, you can’t reason with them and tell them the meds are for their own good, tough all around. I so hope she starts feeling better. I’m positive you will do whatever you need to so she does feel better. Hugs to you all.
Yeah I wish we could have a conversation w/ our pets. That would definitely make it easier! So far Taggart is taking the pills easily in a pill pocket, but I’m not holding my breath. She’s usually pretty quick to discover anything I try to hide.
Nina
So sorry to hear that. We totally understand hoe much pets become ingrained in our lives. Hope she responds well to the treatment.
Ugh, what horrible options you have in front of you. I am so sorry for your kitty, it doesn’t sound fun for either of you. I feel your pain and hope you find solace somewhere along the line. Nothing worse to me than seeing an animal suffer or go through something they can’t understand the reasoning behind. Then to have to be the one to ADMINISTER it to them- that’s hard. Poor kitty! Getting the help she needs though. You’ll get through it!
Yeah it’s always rough, especially in the beginning when you’re trying to figure out an illness and manage everything with meds. The good news for our hyper-T kitty is the meds do help and there IS a cure (the I-131 treatment), even tho’ it’s a tough little treatment to go through. We just have to cross paws that Taggart’s kidneys are OK and she’s a good candidate for it.
Nina
The first thing I do when planning a leg is to get vet info along the route, before gas, stopping places, or anything. Nothing worse than having to look up emergency vets DURING the emergency.
Poor kitty. I hope the meds help.
Hi,
We did the radioactive treatment, our cat lived on quite well for several years.
She passed on at 18 years old.
We live in Michigan and the treatment was done in the Detroit area.
Best Wishes!
Glad to hear your kitty did so well w/ the treatment.
Nina
We are dog parents and totally understand your worries about kitty. Our 14 year old Doxie has major heart issues but she still chases rabbits every chance she gets. And we have spent a fortune on her and would do it all over again. They are our world. Sending prayers and slurp kisses from Scooter and Skittlez.
A 14-year old doggie that chases rabbits. What a tough little cookie she is! I love it! Thanks for the doggie kisses…we always love them.
Nina
Ugh, so sorry you’re going through this. This is one of my biggest concerns about taking our life mobile… quality veterinary care. We often take for granted our access to good quality vets who know us and know our dog. It will definitely be stressful when we have to handle things like this on the road. In addition to the stress of the illness itself, you have the additional stress of not necessarily knowing the vet you’re dealing with.
On the other hand, imagine traveling full-time 20 years ago without the benefit of all the information we have on the web. I guess it could be worse….
I hope kitty gets back to feeling better very soon.
Yes, thank goodness for the Internet. It really makes this mobile life soooo much easier.
Nina
Oh so sorry to hear about your beloved Taggart. One thing is for sure, that is one lucky cat. You are the best fur-kid parents. We hope Taggart responds well to whichever treatment you decide on.
Susan
So sorry to hear about Taggart and completely understsnd. Once we considered a kidney transplant for our favorite Siamese kitty with kidney failure. I may have been on your FLUTD forum 🙂 Hope her kidneys are fine as the I-131 sounds like a better way to go. Good luck.
A kidney transplant…wow! I didn’t even know they did those in cats! You were probably on the CRF forum back in the day, although our FLUTD forum was pretty closely-knit w/ them (urinary issues in common, ya know). Would be funny to know if we corresponded back then online. It’s a small world…
Nina
Hang in there Taggart (and parents). The love and calm she brings you is well worth the efforts. Get her tested for diabetes too, very common problems with our feline family. Good luck with everything.
No diabetes, thankfully. I had a full blood panel done when I took her in for the T4 test and everything was fine. The only elevated result was the T4. Of course some of the blood levels (esp. kidney) may change once the thyroid comes under control again, but we’ll re-do the blood tests after 3 weeks on the meds and see.
Nina
Very sad Nina. I had a hyper-thyroid cat. We used a transdermal gel which we put in her ear – Methimazole. There were no bad side effects, although she was a bit more aggressive about our other cat. The gel was quite effective for a number of years. Kidney failure finally took her last fall at the age of 16, but she had several good years thanks to the Methimazole.
Good luck. Good vibes to Taggart.
Nina, we SO feel for you – last summer we took our two girls with us on their first “long” trip in the RV, our two week trip to Colorado. They were 15 or 16, and we were amazed at how excited Millie was to get out and explore everything (on leash). Like Taggert, she was playful, acting kittenish, ravenous, but losing weight. Like you, we thought it was due to all the activity etc. Fortunately the girls were due for annual checks just after our return home, and lo and behold, hyperthyroidism 🙁
Fortunately Phoenix is one of only two RadioCat clinics on the west side of the country. We went with the option of the radioactive iodine treatment and it has worked amazingly well!! We did the 2 weeks of careful post-treatment handling etc. , and the follow up checks have shown that her treatment was successful. She’s due for another follow up in another week, so we will see how she’s doing then, but all looks well at this time.
If you want to talk to us about this option, feel free to contact us!
Awesome!! Soooo glad your kitty did so well with the radioactive iodine treatment. When it’s done properly it can completely cure the problem, which is the absolute best outcome you can hope for. Continued good healing to her!
Nina
I’m sure you have heard from all the parents of elder kitties with advice. My 15 year old cat was diagnosed a couple of years ago with hyperthyroidism, and he has never done Meds well. There is a compounding pharmacy in the area that prepares both people and pet meds. My Vet prescribed Methimazole cream that we administer to the inside of his ear flap, alternating from one to the other. He is tolerating it very well. We have to wear a finger cot to administer, but it is easy to do. Taggert’s situation might require different solution, but wanted to let you know about a possible alternative before the radioisotope treatment. Xander’s T levels are checked a couple times a year as well as kidney function and so far, so good. Good luck to you all.
Good info, thanks. Lots of folks go the gel route because it minimizes the digestive issues and it’s usually easier than pilling (pilling cats is never fun). We’ll see how Taggart does in this first round of meds and go from there. If she’s a candidate for the I-131 treatment, I think that will be our preferred route.
Nina
I just realized that my sweet Cali Cat has lost weight recently. I need to take her in for a checkup. I fear what the outcome will be. I, like you, love my cats so very much. I have limited funds, so that adds to the stress. I love my cats!!!!
Well hopefully it’s nothing. If she’s loosing weight despite a ravenous appetite, I’d definitely ask for a T4 test in addition to a full blood work panel. We’ll keep our paws crossed for you!
Nina
Sorry to hear about Taggerd. They are indeed like furry children! I am actually seriously moving towards upgrading from a pull trailer to a class A motor home- just so I can travel and keep my 18 year old cat and my wife’s two cats that she entrusted to me when she passed away a few years ago. Where do you keep the litter box? I have been following your blog for several years now and would love any information you might have to share about traveling with pets! Get well soon Taggerd!
-Scott
That’s one of the top reasons we decided to go for a Class A instead of a 5th wheel or trailer. It allows our pets to travel with us in comfort!
We keep the kitty litter in the shower. Not the most snazzy set-up, but it works for us.
Nina
This post of yours really hits home. Just before embarking on our “Bucket List Tour of the US” in May of 2014, our little cat Buzz was progressively getting sicker. Our local vet was attributing it to kidney disease and old age (Buzz was 16 1/2 at the time), but my wife – bless her heart! – sought out a second opinion with a veterinarian specialist. We knew that it most likely wasn’t his thyroid, as it was “nuked” a several years earlier.
After a thorough exam, including sending a blood sample to a very specialized lab in the midwest, our new vet’s suspicions were confirmed – Buzz was suffering from abnormal parathyroid glands. He suggested a specialist surgeon in Tacoma WA, who did the procedure. Of the four parathyroid glands, two had been “assimilated” into a non-cancerous growth on one side of his neck, and as for the remaining two, one was huge (and running the show, so to speak) and the other was small and had atrophied into not doing much of anything. She removed the tumor and the huge gland, leaving only the little runt gland behind. Now came the fun part!
As we travelled, we had to find a vet in each new city every week if we could, and have his blood tested. Buzz was taking meds to provide the chemicals that the parathyroid would normally produce, but it was necessary to provide his system with just below what he needed so as to “kick start” the small remaining gland to get back to work from its prolonged coffee break. Additionally, we needed to give him saline solution below the skin every other night to help take the load off of his kidneys. The good news was that his remaining gland did indeed kick back in, and it has been functioning normally ever since.
After 23 months to the day, we just concluded our adventure full-timing it across the states last month, and took Buzz to the vet that basically saved his life. At 18 1/2 now, all is really good with him. He’s been in 33 states so far, and we have photos of him next to iguanas on the dock in the Florida Keys, walking the aisles of various Camping World stores (on a leash), hanging out on the lawn in eastern Oregon next to the Columbia River, enjoying a piece of lobster in Maine, checking out the bunnies from atop a picnic table near Niagara Falls, watching the hot air balloons go over us at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and sunning himself on the beaches of Seaside, Cannon Beach and Pacific City, Oregon. Our trip has been wonderful, but without Buzz to greet us at the end of each day, it would’ve have been anywhere near as special.
Here’s wishing the best to your little Taggart!
oops- I just realized you have a whole section on traveling with pets and am reading that now!
A sick kitty is indeed a horror on the road. We lost our Smokey last winter to liver deasese. It too came on rapidly, and even though we went to an emergency vet when we saw he was ill, it was too late. three days of treatment, and he was gone. Sad day for us, sad week or more actually, and the pocket book was hit equally as hard, the vet required six hundred dollars down, and an additional fifty dollars for “funeral” expenses. I do feel sorry for you and yours, i know how it feels, I can only say our Smokey loved living on the road, so he died happy, and what more can any of us really wish for.
Oh I’m so very, very sorry. Liver failure can happen SOOO fast in cats, and is so hard to treat even if you catch it relatively quickly. Unfortunately I’ve heard of it happening too many times on the various kitty forums that I’ve attended over the year. So sorry 🙁
Nina
Sending you and all the paws much love as you tackle this head on. You’re definitely not alone in the love of our furry family members.
Wishing all of you comfort and grace during this time of dealing with the constant twists and turns of life. *big hugs*.
Thank you my dear! It’s good to have support from all the other crazy cat people out there 🙂 Hugs to Kiki-cat and you both!
Nina
I’m so sorry to hear of your kitty problems. We’ve had quite a few cats with thyroid issues over the years. I don’t recall them having any issues with the medications, but we did use the compounded formula in her ear. We’re dealing with one cat with kidney failure and high blood pressure so we’re treating her as best as we can. Our other cat has constipation issues and takes lactulose twice a day. I read a little about the slippery elm and it sounds like it might be an option for him. Do you order it online, or get it at a particular place?
Sorry to hear about your kitty issues!
Slippery Elm is certainly worth a try for gut mobility issues. It’s also great to have on-hand for CRF kitties. I bought mine in powder form at a health food store (e.g. Whole Foods or such), but you can also get it online.
I like to make a syrup out of it by mixing 1 tsp into a cup of water, bring to a boil and let cool. Then I syringe feed 1ml to the cat a few times a day. You can also feed it dry in capsules or put it into food, but I’ve just never done it that way.
You can read more about Slippery Elm and how to use it here:
http://www.felinecrf.org/holistic_treatments.htm#seb_what_is_it
Nina
So sorry to hear about your sick kitty. I always feel better, though, when I know what is wrong so the issue can be addressed, and luckily for Taggart you’re on top of it. I hope the meds will help and that will be all Taggart needs. I just hate it when my pets are having health problems. Good luck.
Me too. I’m an action-oriented person so once I know the problem I can DO something about it, and that always makes me feel better. I research, make a plan, make a backup plan and so forth. It’s much, much better than not knowing.
Nina
Ugh! It all turns my stomach just reading about it. We’ve only had one good scare with one of our cats and that was enough for a lifetime. Our thoughts are with you and all the paws!
Kitty issues are scary because cats hide their pain so well. It can be really tough to notice when they’re sick and then even tougher to diagnose it once you do. Glad you’ve only had one scare. Hopefully you’ll have many, many more years with zero scares at all!
Nina
I’m so sorry to hear that your fur baby is ill. I do hope she begins to feel better soon.
Our 13 year old kitty was recently diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease… well, this was all new to me so I searched for a support group on Facebook and found an awesome one. I asked the folks there if they knew of a good support group for Hyper-Thyroid cats, and this one was recommended:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/42301610484/?hc_location=ufi
You might check it out. It’s a closed group, so you have to ask to be added, but the support I’ve received from my IBDKitties group has been immense!! Some of the people in my IBDKitties group have cats that also struggle with hyper thyroid and kidney disease – and it seems like most of them say that the I-131 treatment is the way to go if you can find a qualified vet and can afford it. Wishing good health for your Taggart. 🙂
Cheers for the tip, and I totally agree that support groups are awesome!! I’m getting some solid support from my old Yahoo Groups, but I should probably enter the 21st century and check out the FB groups too. Thanks!
Nina
Nina, I feel for you and Taggert. We just lost our fur baby to complications of kidney disease after an 18 month battle. He was 18 years old. A very excellent resource for both thyroid and kidney problems is Tanya’s CKD site.
http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm
Jaymalea
I hadn’t read the comments, it looks like you already know that site!
Look into the veterinary schools for some of the best cutting edge treatments. There is one of the best in Davis, CA. UCD. I believe there is also a good one in the mid-west.
Yes many of the vet schools offer the I-131 treatment. I’ve got a few of them on my possibility list.
Nina
Nina — go for the radioactive cat. Treatment is a bear (time, $$), but once it’s done, the cat is totally rehabbed. Cats don’t much like those daily, rotten tasting pills. Wishing beloved Taggert many, many more happy rv dweller years!
As long as her kidney values hold I’m pretty sure that’s the route we’ll take.
Nina
Nina — go for the radioactive cat. Treatment is a bear (time, $$), but once it’s done, the cat is totally rehabbed. Cats don’t much like those daily, rotten tasting pills. Wishing beloved Taggart many, many more happy rv dweller years!
So sorry to hear about Taggart and don’t ever apologize for your animals being part of your family! That’s how it goes in this family too–Emmi means the world to us and we go to great lengths to make sure she is happy and well cared for. Here’s hoping all works out for Taggart kitty!
Yikes – so sad, and scary when a family furbaby gets sick. Sounds like you are doing what needs to be done. I hope that whatever route you go with works and yes – in this case living on wheels will be a blessing. Good thing you are a “jello-y” family!!
You and Taggart are in my thoughts!!
Well, you have lots of comments and I did not read them all so sorry if I repeat something someone else may have said. My kitty became hyperthyroid over a year ago. You can get coated thyroid pills from Drs Foster and Smith (they will just need a vet ok) and they are MUCH easier to give to kitty !!! Also, try a pill popper. You can get that from the vet or maybe even a pet store.
I am sorry that kitty is vomiting. Some do. I am lucky that mine never did and took to the pills very well.
Best of luck with this !!!
Cheers for the tips. So far the pill pockets are working for us, but I’ve got a few other tricks up my sleeve if/when they fail. Long-term I’m hoping we can do the I-131 treatment and get off the pills completely.
Nina
So sorry for your sick Kitty. Our pets mean so much to us and contribute so much humor and love. We travel with 3 dogs. Small and 2 mediumish ones. Thyroid problems run in my Human family and I’m a retired nurse. If you do the radiation therapy won’t she have to still take thyroid medication? Is there a different form of the medication available for animals? human thyroid medication comes in tablet form that would be much easier to give to an animal. As nurses we didn’t have to take any precautions for giving our patients thyroid meds.
I sure wish you the best and hopefully it will be a short tunnel and the light will shine quickly
If she does get the radio treatment she should be able to come completely off the Meds, as long as the radioactive dose is administered correctly. Some cats (~5%) need a 2nd treatment, but it completely cures the hyper-T, at least for kitties.
By the way I find it amazing that as nurses you don’t get asked to take precautions with Methimazole. The vet was very specific in telling me I should only handle it with gloves, and it’s marked as a warning on the bottle too.
Nina
needed to correct my comment. sorry-I responded to hypo not hyper thyroidism. My dad had to take medication to suppress his thyroid (he wasn’t healthy enough for any other intervention) and he had to take a lot of the capsules. It’s too bad they couldn’t manufacture your cats medication in something easier to give and handle. Best wishes
Ah! Yes, that makes more sense! The hypo meds are not toxic to handle, although you have to take them for life too. There is a chance, if the I-131 treatment is over-done that the cat goes permanently hypo and needs those same meds. They’re not quite as horrible as the methimazole though.
For the hyper meds, you can get the methimazole compounded into a gel (which you rub into the cats ear for transdermal absorption), but it still requires gloves to handle. No way around that, sadly.
Nina
I have a 19 year old cat that has been on thyroid medicine for over 5-6 years. Maybe more, I really don’t remember when he was diganosed. I don’t wear gloves when giving medicine and he doesn’t seem to mind. He is on Felimazole which is coated and they go down very nicely. He gets tested every 6 months to see how his T-4 is and how his kidneys are doing. I have to change the dose almost every time, but he is doing great and I would highly recommend going this route. If I can answer any questions for you , please let me know.
Great to hear your kitty has been doing so well for so long on the meds. Reaching 19 years old is wonderful!
Nina
I apologize for not reading through other comments so this may be old news to you. UC Davis Vet School is one of the best in the country and they do I-131 Thyroid ablation in cats the right way. They have a good description on their website. Taking care of Taggart while she is still “radioactive” will be much easier if your board your other animals. That way it will be much easier to handle her radioactive cat litter. The good news is that I-131 decays with a physical half life of 8 days so eventually it will all be gone. If you weighed 180 lbs and your body weight had a half life of 8 days you would way 90 lbs after 8 days and 45 lbs after another 8 days..,etc. I am a radiation protection professional and might be able to help if you are worried about the “radioactive” part of Taggarts treatment. If you have questions, please ask!
Yes UC Davis is one of my list possibilities. They have an awesome Vet School.
Nina
I sure hope kitty gets to feeling better or almost normal, or as normal as they can. We don’t have any kids except our furry one and I assure you, we would do what ever it would take too! Good luck I sure hope all goes well throughout this journey. Keep spoiling Taggart and Polly?
Hi there. I’m a veterinarian, and wanted to suggest you look into the cat food made by Hill’s Prescription Diets, specifically for hyperthyroid cats. The results can vary with different cats, but many cats don’t need the medication after starting the diet. We have started newly diagnosed hyperthyroid cats out on just the food, with mostly good results. I think if one of my own cats was diagnosed with it, I would try the food first. Just sayin’ Good luck! Deanna
Unfortunately both my cats are grazers and I’m not able to separate their food, so the Y/D isn’t really a viable option for us. Also given my kitty history (Rand had very serious idiopathic cystitis for several years) I’m not really comfortable changing their food. It took a lot of nutritional experimentation to get her stabilized. So for Taggart it’s going to be either the Meds or the radio treatment.
Nina
Being a cat person, this was hard to read. It is so very difficult to see them get sick. When our last cat had to be put to sleep with cancer, I said that is it! I can’t do it any more. So now I just enjoy other people’s pets:) Sending positive vibes to all of you, especially Taggart:) Please keep us posted:)
I can’t deny that health issues are the hardest things about owning pets, especially as they get older. It’s so sad that they live such short lives 🙁
Nina
Don’t forget the Pedialyte ! Pedialyte has worked well for many animals that needs help through ruff times of treatment. Signs of dehydration include skin that does not spring back when lightly pinched, dry gums and thick saliva. Since Pedialyte promotes water and electrolyte retention, I’m sure she will pull through this treatment and be fine for years. Your great paw parents!!
Nina and Paul, So sorry about the health issues with Taggart. We had not one, but two much loved fur babies with hyperthyroid diagnoses. For us, the problem was complicated by age, Jake was 17 when diagnosed, Maxine was 18. Jake also was blind, unknown why. He was a beautiful Maine Coon, and we had him since he was just a tiny kitten, found along the road, alone. He was nearly run over by an 18 wheeler, but survived with just a broken leg. Maxine wandered by one very cold day in January, apparently abandoned near our home. We took her in when it was almost dark, and she was still outside, alone. They were both diagnosed within a year. We started with the Methimazole pills, but both fought them so much, we switched to the gel. Because of their ages, and Jake’s blindness, we decided against the iodine treatment and continued the meds. Jake lasted only about a year, and it was brutal. Maxine did better, but began to display signs of feline dementia about a year later, and we decided with our cat vet that maybe it would be better to let her go. What kept us going was the two younger cats we had–Pete and Moe. Pete especially, was very affected by losing his pals. He’s become a bit neurotic, but we’re doing okay. Wish the best of luck to Taggart and you both.
So sorry to hear about your old kitties. They clearly both selected you as their parents (our cats were the same…both rescues), and you reciprocated with lots of love and a long, full life. It’s the perfect pet-parent partnership. And I totally get why the radiation treatment wasn’t on the table. I think I would have made the same choice in your shoes. Thanks for sharing your story.
Nina
You are in reasonable proximity to Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Pullman, Washington). I have had many of my dogs receive treatment (radiation, ultrasounds on tumors, etc.) and they have a very dedicated staff of veterinarians and student interns who have seen lots of different animal illnesses compared to a private veterinary practice. Might be worth a phone call to see what they might offer Taggart in the way of treatment.
That was one of the first places I called. Unfortunately their I-131 treatment method for cats is not really up to par. They don’t offer thyroid scans and don’t seem to dose individually to the cat. It’s more a “one size fits all” approach which carries far more risk to the cat of subsequently going hypo. Definitely not the gold standard for I-131. I was surprised, to be honest, and expected more. It’s a shame too ‘coz Washington would have been a perfect next stop.
Nina
Aw, so sorry to hear about your kitty! I hope she gets well soon … and I’m exactly the same way when it comes to medical problems – I’m the researcher (yes, I’ve read the medical journal papers as well – my Dad died from a very rare form of cancer and at times, I felt like I knew more than his doctors did about the disease). Don’t be too hard on yourself about not catching kitty’s illness sooner – that happened with our last cat unfortunately (and I work at home all day). Sometimes I almost think the more time you spend with them, the less you are to notice things, strangely. I hope Taggart responds to treatment … best wishes from our kitty family to yours!
I think you’re absolutely right. Part of the reason I didn’t really notice Taggart losing weight was probably because I’m with her all the time. It started so gradual at first, and the other symptoms didn’t click for me….until they did.
So very, very sorry about your dad. It’s never easy to lose a parent, and when there is a rare sickness involved it’s even harder. I can only imagine the frustration and pain of dealing with something like that. It changes you for life.
Nina
I am sorry to hear the old girl is a little under the weather. In my case it’s a basset hound but has similar issues that lead to terrible skin reactions. Too many blog posts about it, have seen too many vets, too many treatments and almost two years later, no changes.
I found your story about the test for thyroid issues interesting, because the last two vets told me they would not consider it since she was or has lost weight. They both did total blood work and every organ and every level proved to be normal. My basset had gone from 48-36 pounds in 10 months but has maintained that 36 pounds these past 12 months. Still, she is skin and bones.
You are to be commended in all your research and adjusting plans around your sick kitty. It does make you wonder though just how many times a vet is wrong but is followed by the cat/dog parent. Thanks for your post since it will keep me on the research path in trying to find a solution. I think I need to find a vet that will give her a thyroid test.
I’m no doggie expert on thyroid stuff, but I would definitely recommend getting your girl’s thyroid levels tested. Taggart’s blood work showed nothing outside of elevated T4. In fact ALL her other levels (CBC, chemistry etc.) were perfect, and if I hadn’t specifically asked for the T4 test we still wouldn’t know anything.
Also, if you get a chance seek out some doggie support groups on Facebook or other places. There are likely even Basset Hound groups out there. You’d be amazed how much support you can get once you find the right group. They don’t replace vets of course, but they arm you with the knowledge to work more intelligently with your vet, and that can change everything!
My kitty support groups got me through my first cats’ cystitis issues over 8 years ago (after the vets ran out of ideas to help me), and they’re already helping guide me through Taggart’s thyroid problems. I would be lost without them!
Nina
So sorry to hear about poor Taggart. A very lucky kitty with parents that know what to do and how to access resources for the best care. Thinking of you all, you and Paul and all paws!
Nina, so sorry to hear the news about Taggart but know that with your analytical ways, you will make the right decision for her. Sometimes it does feel like all the bad news is dumped at our doorstep at the same time but hopefully all that is behind you for awhile and you can focus on what needs to be done. I have no doubt you are an excellent kitty mom.
Wishing your little kitty the very best.
So sorry to hear about Taggart but treatment sounds promising! We just had a scare with our 11 yo kitty over the weekend. She couldn’t go to the bathroom no matter how many times she tried and then I started seeing blood in what little urine she did have. Turned out to be a UTI but giving her a 2x day pill is a nightmare! Still, so very glad it wasn’t something more serious. Hope to hear good news for Taggart soon!
I hope your vet cultured the urine? Cats actually don’t get UTIs very often (except CRF kitties) and are commonly over-prescribed antibiotics. Many, many times urinary issues in cats are caused by crystals (often struvite) or simply inflammation (cystitis), and it’s often related to cats who are primarily fed dry food. This is what Rand had and it’s an area I specialized in for many years on the groups, so I have some history on this one. If she has another episode after you get off the antibiotics, I’d highly suggest joining the FLUTD yahoo group or Wholecathealth Yahoo Group.
Nina
Thanks for the info Nina. The blood issue cleared up right away and she has been able to relieve herself. So far so good. I’ll definitely keep an eye on her once she’s off the antibiotic. We are very aware of the issues with dry food so she is fed wet (Tiki Cat chicken & Primal chicken/salmon dry until you add water). She does get a few treats of dry Greenies. Pretty small amount though. Will keep the yahoo cat health group in mind. Thanks again and looking forward to some good news for Taggart!
PS. love your two kitties names 🙂
Nina,
I’ve read your blog for a couple of years and I don’t think I’ve ever commented (although I frequently make your homemade larabars).
I travel with two Jack Russells (this is a foreign statement to me as I bought a motorhome to take my four Jack Russells from Texas to Montana each year, but sadly I lost two of them in April).
I had a cat with the same thyroid issue years ago. She lived a good life for a couple of additional years on meds alone. But it wasn’t without some side effects.
I wanted to suggest looking into vet schools if you find your baby is a candidate for the therapy. I’m lucky enough to winter very close to the Texas A&M Vet School and we summer in Montana and I’ve made a mad dash to the College of Veterinary Medicine in Washington State.
Your kitty is lucky to have such good parents!
So very sorry you lost two of your babies! That’s incredibly hard! I’m definitely looking at several vet schools. Washington doesn’t do the I-131 treatment the way I hoped, but a few others do. The vet schools are a great resource.
Nina
Unless you are a pet owner (Boston Terrier 11 years old) no one can really relate to how hard this is. Hopefully she will respond to the treatment. Hang in there, just love her and keep HER chin up.
Pat
sorry to hear about your cat. Our cat, Silver, also ended up with the same condition and she is doing fine on the pill. we did have to reduce the pill from one twice a day to half twice a day as it really knocked her out. she has been taking the pill for 2 years now and is 17 years old and still going strong. the only problem we have with her now is she doesnt groom herself as much so her hair looks matty a lot so we have to brush her more. she also has some arthritis so she doesnt scratch with her claws anywhere anymore so they get kind long and dig in a lot when she is sitting on your lap, haha.
Hope you cat gets used to the meds and does well! Enjoy your time in Oregon, we live near Redmond, OR.
Glad to hear your kitty is doing well on the meds! From what I’ve read on the forums the dosage can be somewhat tricky to get right, especially in the beginning. Slow and steady is what everyone advises. Hope your baby continues to do well.
Nina
Our 19 year old tabby cat developed the same issues. After trying the topical medicine in the ear, which resulted in an ear infection, our vet switched us to Methimazole Suspension 10mg/ml. We put 0.25 ml in her food twice a day. The results have been amazing. She’s putting weight back on and her recent blood tests show he T4 is too low now. So we backed off to 0.1ml twice a day. Another blood test in a few weeks should determine if we are on the right track. In the mean time Mocha is back to her normal self. This also marks the 6th year she’s been traveling with us in the motorhome.
Interesting tip in the suspension. That’s actually a formulation of the med that I hadn’t heard about, and wasn’t offered at the vet. Cheers!
Nina
I know how you feel, poor kitty. I am just starting out as a full time RVer. One week in, i noticed a white spot on my dog’s tongue. found out it may be calcinosis conscripta, so had to find a vet. Surgery was yesterday, dog’s doing great, and so glad that I found a wonderful vet in Commerce, MI. Can’t do without my Bear and two cats. Hope the rest of the month is worry free. Take care, little kitty and family!
Thank goodness you caught it and you were able to find a vet to do the surgery! Hope your baby heals well!
Nina
We did the thyroid med w/ our elderly cat for several years. We did have a compounding pharmacy put it into ointment form that we then put in his ear twice a day. Much better than the struggle to get a tablet down!
Man, life sure does throw us some curve balls sometimes, doesn’t it? Whenever something like this happens, we just want someone to love us, pet us, and know we are in good hands. So imagine the comfort that Taggart is feeling from you right about now. I hope with you and Paul being on opposite sides of the continent, you two are also finding ways to feel some comfort…Sending virtual hugs, Suzanne
Hi Nina,
So sorry to hear about Taggerts medical problems.
I work in the animal welfare world and can give you some referrals in the Portland area for I-131 therapy.
You are fortunate to get the diagnosis near one of the top pet friendly cities in the US as the veterinary resources in Portland are outstanding.
Please drop me a line if you want more info.
Brenda
Thanks. I’ve sent you a personal e-mail.
Nina
I hope this is not perceived as harsh, but this is what I posted about our dog, Daisy, who died on Saturday. While it’s about a dog, we also have had three cats. One died quickly, but my biggest regret is that I didn’t make a decision to put the other two to sleep earlier(at different times). They were in pain and didn’t show it and we were too emotionally involved to make sound decisions. One was ten and one was 21.
This is what I posted on facebook: “Our perfect little dog, Daisy, went over the Rainbow Bridge today. Making such a decision is agonizing and difficult; always put the welfare of your pet First, not your own. Our vet said that, because dogs are pack animals, that they will never let you know if they are in pain. Do the best for them and put your own feelings aside. Don’t let your best friends suffer. What a perfect dog we had the pleasure of knowing”.
Make the right decision for your pet.
Look I appreciate what you’re trying to say here, but we’re not at that stage yet. Not even close. Taggart is not suffering and is not anywhere close to an “end of life” scenario. In fact if she turns out to be a candidate for the I-131 treatment we’ll be able to completely resolve the problem. This is a condition that *DOES* have a cure! Even without the I-131 treatment, the meds are effective for (at least) several years. So, we’re nowhere close to that next stage. When we do get there, believe me we’ll make the decision we need to. We’ve seen several pets over the rainbow bridge in our time.
Very, very sorry about your doggie Daisy. My heart goes out to you.
Nina
My Husband and I are very new to your site but are also much attached to our pets. Each one of our pets is a family member and are always much loved. We just want to let you know that we have gone through the surprise of a diagnosis, the change in plans, the indecision as to what to do for the beloved pet, etc. that you are going through. Please know that we are thinking of you.
Thank you for your posts. We are finding them very helpful.
So sorry for your kitty. We had ours for 16 years and my dad had his around for 23 years. Hopefully he will get better and the meds will keep everything in check.
Fingers crossed for Taggart..and you…medicating kitties is always challenging. We just lost a 17 year old Fitzy…so hard..our family..but his two brothers are still with us. We have switched them over to frozen raw a few years back and the change was incredible. Check out Radcat….kitties lick the plates completely clean and no more vomiting! Did you find the slippery elm worked for carsickness at all? The guy we lost had issues with that but not his brothers. All the best to you.
Pamela and Mike astrogypsies.com
I’m a HUGE raw-food supporter. I was never able to switch the kitties over (they’re very, very picky), but the doggie has been on 100% raw-food diet since she was a pup. I haven’t used Slippery Elm for car-sickness. Don’t know why I’ve never thought of that, but I’ll give it a try.
Nina
My cat had the same issue as yours. After a few weeks of having shredded arms from medicating him, I paid for the radioactive iodine treatment. It was so worth it. He had the treatment at 11 years (in 2001) and lived to be 20. At the time, the only vet who did this treatment was in Pacifica, CA. Good luck! It’s all going to be OK!!
My last kitty family member passed away on my birthday after reaching 18 years of age….
I know the pain……Best friend I’ve had..except for her brother and sister……They made it 12 and 14 yrs…
I swear they were humans in their past lives…..At least we understood each other…..
Best wishes,
David
Hi Nina,
I’m sorry to hear about your kitty health troubles, but your fur kids are lucky to have such dedicated and resourceful parents to look after them! Your level of research on treatment options is impressive.
Did you ever research homeopathic care for their health issues? I switched over to homeo care for my pets some years ago for a dog that had pannus with very good results. My next dog had cancer and also very good results from homeo care after surgery, the sarcoma stayed away and did not return until years later at the end of her life. My present dog came with numerous food allergies but I have no more problems with his skin issues with a good remedy. Along the way, I’ve used homeopathic care with them for various sorts of infections, which all resolved quickly and without drama.
My experience with thyroid is limited to the human field, I have a hyper and hypo patient who are doing well with no need for medication (I became a homeopath along the way after seeing what it did for my dog). I have a colleague who has maintained her aged cat with kidney failure for 2 years now without the need for injections or daily saline.
Anyways, I thought I’d throw that idea out there in case you were interested in reading about homeopathic care for pets. If you decide to give it a try, you would need to go to a vet or practitioner who knows what they are doing though, it’s not a do it yourself area, as I see postings on the web of people asking what remedies they should use for this or that problem. That approach does not work with homeopathy as it’s so specific to the individual case.
We’re getting ready to buy our 1st RV and be FT. Questions: we live in Calif-how long do you have to register the vehicle? cause we want to park it on our property, to empty out house, to put up for sale and be gone right after. So don’t want to register/pay sales tax in Cal. Timing is everything. Do want to make SD our domicile. Would appreciate your advice. LOVE your blog. 2 kitties will be along for the ride 🙂 Thanks so much
I’m not sure of the exact timing. I know you can register your RV in SD before you drive up there to get your drivers license (that’s what we did -> you have 90 days from registration to get your license), but I’m worried about the CA laws in regards to first registering & paying your taxes there. I “think” you can get a temporary license and then you have a limited time-frame (maybe 30 days?) to get your vehicle registered and licensed in SD, but I’m pretty sure you have to be OUT of CA residency and officially declared as SD residency before you can do that. If you haven’t yet sold your CA residence (and you still have CA drivers licence & CA address) I think you’d be hard-pressed to prove you’ve already domiciled in another state? I know CA residency can be tricky to break and you definitely want a very clean break to avoid nasty tax consequences. I’d recommend checking into this w/ a tax attorney or domicile adviser to be sure. Sorry I couldn’t help more!
Nina
Thanks for your response. Yep, that’s Calif! Have called DMV and hard to get a clear answer, but will pursue.
I think firmly declaring domicile in SD first will be the key here. If you can manage it I’d get your address up there, register your existing tow vehicle in SD and (preferably) switch drivers licence to SD before buying your new RV. The key is to sever as many ties with CA as you can. That way, you can prove you have officially moved out of state. It’s really tricky to do this while you still own and have licenses in CA, at least not without paying CA taxes.
Here’s another article for you:
http://www.law360.com/articles/486192/calif-taxpayers-you-can-t-check-out-any-time-you-like
Nina
I admit I have not read many of the comments above, but wanted to let you know what my course of the same disease was. Not sure how it might help Taggart, but the more information, the better, as far as I am concerned!
In September of 2004, I was diagnosed with a strange combination of hypo/hyperthyroidism, and took the oral pill (propylthiouracil) for a few weeks until I stabilized. Then had the I131 ablation. Indeed, the propylthiouracil was exceedingly vile tasting, but I didn’t have any nausea with it. It took a couple of years to really get entirely stabilized, but over the last 10 years, I’ve done fine on a daily dose of 88 mcg. of Synthroid.
Best wishes for Taggart’s full recovery! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
The progression in cats is very similar to humans. Similar meds and similar results after I-131. Like you, a good portion of cats end up taking synthetic thyroid meds due to going hypo after the treatment, but my understanding is that’s a far better option than continuing to let the tumor grow.
I’m so happy to hear you’ve done well post-treatment. Thanks very much for sharing your story Judie!
Nina
We were very attached to our little kitty Smoky the cat as well. Saddly we lost Smokey the cat last winter, well last spring, just before our trek back to SD. His body just got too old, and he became very ill. We took him to the Vet, who kept him over the weekend, he passed away the second day, so a bit over 600 dollars for vet care, and “disposal.” We have talked of finding a replacement for Smokey the cat, but the pain is still to strong, BUT: when we returned to South Dakota to catch up with our doctors, who seem to be very clingy now that we are over 65, our daughter had a couple of new cats! The newest, and youngest is a beautiful little Siamese tabby cross, mostly white with a tiger face and socks. Well when I walked in the door, one of the new cats ran and hid, Snowball came up to me and meowed till I picked her up. We have been home now for 2 weeks, and that little cat (almost still kitten) has been either on my lap, or at least in the same chair as me every hour. She sleeps on my bed, (waking me about every 3 hours demanding petting!) so I believe we have us a new cat. The other new cat tolerates me, but loves my wife nearly as much as Snowball does me. Perhaps we will have two cats when the Doctors are done examining, probing, Xraying, and other ing’s us and lets us back on the road.
That’s very close to how we ended up with our 2 kitties. We came home to visit Paul’s mom around 15 years ago and she had taken in a pregnant stray cat. So, all of a sudden she had 9 cats! I asked all 9 of them who wanted to travel the world with us, and Taggart came right up to me. Rand was the more reluctant follower, but she and Taggart are still inseparable all these years later.
Very happy for you that you’ve taken in a new furry family member…and possibly two. May you have many wonderful years ahead!