Poor guy. My Henry was just diagnosed last month and he's been taking the transdermal gel version of the methimazole (we call it his meth!). He's going for a recheck on Monday. I feel for you with the pills---I can't imagine having to pill a cat twice a day every single day. I feel very fortunate to have the gel, especially since I've been reading so much about tummy upsets with the internal treatments. Even so, he has been throwing up more frequently since he's been on it, so I'm going to have to get him some aloe vera juice I think.

Good luck with your baby

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My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong

A T4 of 71 sounds slightly high to me and would account for the current weight loss you mentioned earlier. I'm sure you'd achieve much better regulation by 2x daily dosing of current amount. This irregular medicating regime suggested by the vet sounds ridiculous to me and I can't imagine how the poor cats ( or their organs! ) feel with the yo-yo effects of it all!

Wonder also if perhaps he's got a touch of arthritis or an abscess which could also account for his response at vets. Sounds as if he could well be in pain if he's hiding away. When constipation clears up you'll have a better idea. Scabs could also be a side-effect of the meds which can cause itching.

Hope he's better soon!

I actually found Felimazole to be pretty easy to administer as it is such a small tablet. Does he like treats Howlinbob? It could easily be tucked into a bit of Webbox stick or a tiny piece of cheese, even hid in a blob of Primula which my gang all love. I even bought Greenies Pill Pockets on ebay which are a marvellous invention.
As for timing of the test, well if you pill him early in am anf the T4 was tested later in evening you may have got a scewed result ( I used to set the alarm for 4am to dose for a 9am test!! ) Either way I think you have to try dosing twice a day and see how that affects numbers.
Dagny.....I am not so sure about Aloe Vera for cats, it can be irritating or laxative in effect, maybe try Slippery elm which is more calmative.

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!

Thanks for your very helpful replies. I've just gone on ebay and bought a pill cutter. Didn't know there was such a thing! But it makes sense to give Barney a regular twice daily dose. I think I'll try the current dosage, 1 pill per day, but administered in 2 halves. I don't want to increase the dosage if it's not really necessary.

I feel slightly less guilty that the scabby skin could be a side-effect rather than an allergic reaction to a flea! All the more reason to keep the pill dosage down if possible. I agree it is a small pill and easy to give, but Barney's become very crabby about it and now I get a paw up with claws out when I try to open his mouth. Sometimes I have to wrap him in the oven gloves to keep his claws away But I'm putting that down to his feeling really unwell and being very impatient with everything, poor old lad.

He does seem a bit better today. He didn't claw me this morning over the pill and he's been hanging out with me and the other cats quite happily, in fact he's on my lap right now chilling out.

I must say the PF is a fantastic resource thanks to members like you guys giving the benefit of your experience! Before coming here I would have followed all my vet's advice without question.

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Rescue cats for many years, currently one moggie and 3 young Maine Coons.

Im glad he's a bit brighter today & hope giving him half twice a day helps keep him away from the vets

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All my children have paws!

Everyone on the Hyper-T forum on yahoo uses it for their cats and they report great results. I've used it on myself and the dogs in the past when I had some around and it's great, but I wouldn't have known it was fine for cats until now. Maybe I'll just get both to be safe.

They say George's brand aloe liquid is the best--there's no additives and it tastes just like spring water, so he won't notice it if I give him a little in some goat milk or the food.

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My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong

The old lad's just tucking into some home made raw mix to which I added a tsp of natural yoghurt and plenty of raw mix juice.

Onwards and upwards!

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Rescue cats for many years, currently one moggie and 3 young Maine Coons.