Snoopy eating Sakaura's crunchies

Snoopy eating Sakaura's crunchies
Originally uploaded by fbruehl

She's quite brave to sit here eating from her enemy's food bowl. But where food is concerned she shows no fear!

Her hair is coming back in nicely, but I am having no luck getting her to like being combed/brushed.

For some reason it's like I expect her to have a total personality change at this advanced age, and I must come to grips with the fact that it's just not going to happen.

Snoopy & friends

Snoopy & friends
Originally uploaded by fbruehl

It's been a week since we started Snoopy on the Resthyro and so far so good. We have had no problems dosing her. I mix her 6 drops directly into her wet food. I tried to see if she'd take it directly from the dropper but that was not successful, but she gets it all in via the food, so that's fine.

It is hard to tell if it is helping, but there are a couple of changes. For one, she seems to be much calmer and more self-asssured around Sakaura. She has even taken to coming into our bedroom - I think only on the weekends when she thinks we sleep too late. This morning I sat up in bed and saw her emerging from under the bed so that is where she is hiding.

She normally goes from eating back to the bed and then comes out to eat again. This past week she's been going to sit in a chair in "her bedroom" that is by the window. Not earthshaking news -- but for her that is a huge change.

One of the symptoms of hyperthryroidism in cats is yowling and she'd done that to a small extent prior to startng this medicine. I am happy to report that has been NO yowling this past week. So that is a sign that something is going on.

I want to wait at least a month before we have her blood checked again. Then we will decide if we continue with this or settle for the "drugs". I am hoping we can keep up with the herbal treatment!

Nothing new to report on Monday

Image by fbruehl via Flickr

Snoopy is still taking the herbal drops. I'm adding them directly into her food and she's polishing that off quite nicely.

I'd like to think she's a bit calmer, and we've not heard the yowling that she'd started doing.

This morning she was back at her place in the hall, waiting for us to get up. But she did venture into our bedroom both nights of the weekend. Perhaps it was because we did sleep a bit later than we do on the work days.

I did weigh her yesterday and she's just over 12 pounds.

Day Two - Resthyro

Snoopy - June 14
Originally uploaded by fbruehl

This morning she didn't really want to drink the milk with the medicine, so I poured it over her food. I think she just wanted the food more than the milk. Tonight I will just add the drops of medicine directly into the food.

She was somewhere in our bedroom this morning when we got up. I got up and went to turn the light on in the hall bathroom (where she normally hangs out) and she came running out of our dark bedroom. I think maybe she is sneaking in and under the bed. Definitely different behavior.

She's also much braver facing down Sakaura. Still not buddies, but no more fighting and since she does not run, there is no chasing. I think Sakaura is disappointed LOL!

Day One - Herbal Therapy

It may be too early to see a difference and perhaps it is a stretch to think that just one dose actually has had any effect.  But this morning, when I stepped out of bed, I almost stepped on Snoopy.  Instead of lurking out in the hall, she was on the rug right by the bed - right next to where Sakaura was laying and,  I am sure, staring her down.

This morning she got her second dose - 6 drops in a tiny amount of milk.  I guess I should actually measure the milk so tonight I will do that.  Likely a tablespoon will be enough.

In other news, even though her hair is extremely short, I'm combing her.  I want to see if maybe she will get used to that comb so that once her hair grows out she will let me continue.  Some of the testimonials on the PetWellbeing.com site indicate that their cats have developed better coats after this treatment.  I know this is hoping for a miracle, but it may just work.

I need to track the results, so I think I'll use this blog.

Snoopy starts her herbal medicine today

Snoopy's bloodwork shows she may have early hyperthroidism, which we understand is very common in older cats. After doing some online research, we found an herbal treatment that may be easier on her than the "drugs" the doctor has suggested. The vet did agree that perhaps we should try the herbs for a few weeks and then have her tested again.

So we got the Resthryo tonight and just administered the first dose. She only needs 5-6 drops, so I mixed it with a little bit of milk and she drank it right up!

I am so hopeful that it will work!

Stalker!

Stalker!
Originally uploaded by fbruehl

Today we made a trip to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens. This is the local cat and he had something cornered in a hole in the grass here.

It was a most friendly cat, allowing me to pet him and purring. I am sure he gets a lot of attention with all the site seers around.

What a gorgeous day for cats and people!