Unexplained Weight Loss - Hyper Thyroid?

[stripeybeanie]

Hi everyone, has anyone had a piggy with hyperthyroidism?
Dot is approx 4yo and had to be spayed in January (discovered during a regular checkup). She recovered really well and been fine since but recently I noticed she was losing weight - quickly. Luckily she had a bit of extra timber to act as a buffer but I was/am worried. Vet noticed she was breathing quickly and at first treated it as a URI but baytril did nothing so Vet did a full examination under anaesthetic including Xray and took blood. Bloods came back clear - healthy white count so thats good to know - Xray showed a shadow around liver area. Vet not sure about that. She said if she wasn't already spayed she would recommend it.
Shadow aside, she thinks it could be Hyper-Thyroid so we've just started on little tablets (they're a challenge!) She also gave us some info about the condition and it does all make sense (apart from the shadow thing):
- weight loss but still a great appetite (even increased tbh)
- crazy active behaviour (we just thought she *really* liked her new tunnels)
- quickened heart-rate (hence quickened breathing)

Anyone else had this sort of thing? I've heard the condition can be fatal due to the heart thing and as she's still dropping weight I'm hoping the tablets will kick in soon
Thanks in advance

 

[Wiebke]

@helen105281 @Jaycey @Freela @Pound Shilling & Pig

 

[VickiA]

@BertisKing had a piggy with hyperthyroidism. He had surgery to his thyroid and as I understand it is now doing very well. I’ve tagged her.

 

[BertisKing]

Hi everyone, has anyone had a piggy with hyperthyroidism?
Dot is approx 4yo and had to be spayed in January (discovered during a regular checkup). She recovered really well and been fine since but recently I noticed she was losing weight - quickly. Luckily she had a bit of extra timber to act as a buffer but I was/am worried. Vet noticed she was breathing quickly and at first treated it as a URI but baytril did nothing so Vet did a full examination under anaesthetic including Xray and took blood. Bloods came back clear - healthy white count so thats good to know - Xray showed a shadow around liver area. Vet not sure about that. She said if she wasn't already spayed she would recommend it.
Shadow aside, she thinks it could be Hyper-Thyroid so we've just started on little tablets (they're a challenge!) She also gave us some info about the condition and it does all make sense (apart from the shadow thing):
- weight loss but still a great appetite (even increased tbh)
- crazy active behaviour (we just thought she *really* liked her new tunnels)
- quickened heart-rate (hence quickened breathing)

Anyone else had this sort of thing? I've heard the condition can be fatal due to the heart thing and as she's still dropping weight I'm hoping the tablets will kick in soon
Thanks in advance

Hi

My aby Humphrey had a growth on his thyroid. From what we could tell he had it all his life (he's 3.5yo) and it was slow growing until January this year when it became too large and started interfering with his thyroid function to the extreme- he dropped more than half his body weight in about a week and no matter how many supplementary feedings I gave him he couldn't retain his weight, never mind gain any- it was awful!

He had always had all the typical over active thyroid symptoms- he was scrawny but ate like a horse, was always very warm (he liked to lie under a dripping water bottle), very active, rapid pulse, but we didn't put two and two together until afterwards.
Ultimately he had to have a hemithyroidectomy as the vet couldn't tell from his US scan whether the growth was coming from his thyroid or was a soft tissue lesion attached to it.

He only had half his thyroid removed and the other half has compensated enough that he doesn't need meds (for now)
He's now heavier than he ever was and has even grown all over. His coat's in much better condition too.

Hopefully Dot's tablets kick in soon and you see some improvement- once Humphrey was over his surgery the change was immediate. He put about 20-30g on each day and has stabilized at a healthy 1100g (he averaged about 850g pre-op) and things like his body temp and heart rate have stabilized. Of course we don't know whether that caused any damage, but at the moment he certainly doesn't seem any the worse for it!

Hope Dot starts to feel better soon x

 

[jenniferanneharris]

My guinea pig Haven had hyperthyriodism- she had an op to remove a goyter from her throat and then was medicated and her thyriod levels returned ti normal on medication- but she had blood tests and daily medication. Haven has since passed (from an unrelated illness) but her hyperthyroidm was under control with medication.
We went to an exotic vet as a regular vet mis diagnosed her with kidney issues. I would highly recomend seeing a exotic vet for an issue such as this.

 

[Elwickcavies]

I had a guinea pig with hyperthyroidism. The symptoms were extreme weight loss, fast heart beat and increased activity (I thought he was just running around after his ladies!). Unfortunately we hadn't had him on medication for long before he had what is known as a "thyroid storm" where the gland produces loads of hormone and he died very quickly. I have since heard of several pigs with the same condition, one of which survived for several months on medication, but none of which have lived a full life. They were all treated with a cream rubbed on the ear, so I hope that the tablets are more successful. My vet didn't consider removing the thyroid. perhaps this would have been a better approach. Sending healing vibes your way!

 

[stripeybeanie]

I had a guinea pig with hyperthyroidism. The symptoms were extreme weight loss, fast heart beat and increased activity (I thought he was just running around after his ladies!). Unfortunately we hadn't had him on medication for long before he had what is known as a "thyroid storm" where the gland produces loads of hormone and he died very quickly. I have since heard of several pigs with the same condition, one of which survived for several months on medication, but none of which have lived a full life. They were all treated with a cream rubbed on the ear, so I hope that the tablets are more successful. My vet didn't consider removing the thyroid. perhaps this would have been a better approach. Sending healing vibes your way!

I am very sorry you lost your piggy to this. Thanks for your advice
I'm hoping Dot will stick with us for a while but who knows with piggies!?

 

[stripeybeanie]

My guinea pig Haven had hyperthyriodism- she had an op to remove a goyter from her throat and then was medicated and her thyriod levels returned ti normal on medication- but she had blood tests and daily medication. Haven has since passed (from an unrelated illness) but her hyperthyroidm was under control with medication.
We went to an exotic vet as a regular vet mis diagnosed her with kidney issues. I would highly recomend seeing a exotic vet for an issue such as this.

Thanks, thats good to know. Our vet hasn't suggested surgery to remove it but we of course go to an exotic vet - jemma at high croft in bristol, she is super!

 

[stripeybeanie]

Hi

My aby Humphrey had a growth on his thyroid. From what we could tell he had it all his life (he's 3.5yo) and it was slow growing until January this year when it became too large and started interfering with his thyroid function to the extreme- he dropped more than half his body weight in about a week and no matter how many supplementary feedings I gave him he couldn't retain his weight, never mind gain any- it was awful!

He had always had all the typical over active thyroid symptoms- he was scrawny but ate like a horse, was always very warm (he liked to lie under a dripping water bottle), very active, rapid pulse, but we didn't put two and two together until afterwards.
Ultimately he had to have a hemithyroidectomy as the vet couldn't tell from his US scan whether the growth was coming from his thyroid or was a soft tissue lesion attached to it.

He only had half his thyroid removed and the other half has compensated enough that he doesn't need meds (for now)
He's now heavier than he ever was and has even grown all over. His coat's in much better condition too.

Hopefully Dot's tablets kick in soon and you see some improvement- once Humphrey was over his surgery the change was immediate. He put about 20-30g on each day and has stabilized at a healthy 1100g (he averaged about 850g pre-op) and things like his body temp and heart rate have stabilized. Of course we don't know whether that caused any damage, but at the moment he certainly doesn't seem any the worse for it!

Hope Dot starts to feel better soon x

Thankyou! Glad to hear Humphrey is doing well. Yes those symptoms sounds exactly the same as Dot's

 

[stripeybeanie]

Thanks everyone for your kind advice and warm wishes. General update in addition to replies above:
As she is still losing / not retaining weight - despite us feeding critical care 2-3 times a day AND her ploughing her way through hay and veggies but less pellets that normal, vet Jemma suggested a CT scan (£££!) On the x-ray she did a few weeks ago there was a weird shadow around her tummy / liver area. Jemma thought it could have been inflammation from where food was passing through way too fast, but it also could be any number of things, so we thought to let the tablets take effect before we investigated further.
Scan was yesterday afternoon - she's still feeling peculiar from the anaesthetic bless her and only took 3ml of critical care this morning and a brussels sprout (her new fav!) Think she just needs some sleep and Alan to stop being an idiot and she'll be more like herself.
Results due next week - all paws crossed everyone!
xx

 

[stripeybeanie]

Update on Dot:
Sadly the CT results showed the right thyroid lobe is cancerous. We are devastated.
Vet gave us 3 options:
1) surgery to remove this but obviously super risky as close to artery & windpipe. also, her lymph nodes are enlarged which could be because they are fighting the thyroid but could be because it has spread there.
2) she mentioned some universities are doing radioactive iodine treatment but that would be travel to Edinburgh, super £££ and apparently it can be painful for them so I don't like that option
3) let nature take its course....
She weighs approx. 840g currently - been steadily dropping despite critical care feeds. I really don't know what course of action to take...

 

[stripeybeanie]

Update on Dot:
Sadly the CT results showed the right thyroid lobe is cancerous. We are devastated.
Vet gave us 3 options:
1) surgery to remove this but obviously super risky as close to artery & windpipe. also, her lymph nodes are enlarged which could be because they are fighting the thyroid but could be because it has spread there.
2) she mentioned some universities are doing radioactive iodine treatment but that would be travel to Edinburgh, super £££ and apparently it can be painful for them so I don't like that option
3) let nature take its course....
She weighs approx. 840g currently - been steadily dropping despite critical care feeds. I really don't know what course of action to take...

 

[helen105281]

I'm so sorry. It is hard to know what to suggest as you know her best. If she were mine I think it would be opting for palliative care as the op sounds risky due to the location, is it an experienced vet you are seeing though? Some may suggest you go for the op if so.

 

[annaa]

Just caught up with what's going on with you and Dot - again, I'm so sorry you are going through this as well. It's heartbreaking trying to decide what is the kindest and best course of action for them isn't it? Did the scan show what the shadows around her abdomen were? Sending you lots of love and strength for a difficult decision x

 

[stripeybeanie]

Thanks @helen105281 & @annaa for your kind wishes.
We decided to go down the palliative care route in the end, as she was still losing weight so we weren't sure she is well enough for surgery. Now she has come off the thyroid meds she is actually much perkier - which could be the illness itself OR the vet said the mass is only 1 side of the thyroid so the other side is healthy and was being dampened by the tablets. Bizarrely she's also put ON a little weight but she's very up & down and not her "old self" so I still think we made the right decision. The shadows on the abdomen were - typical GP! - food! lolz, good old Dot always got a full belly!
So I'm spoiling her rotten with blueberries and parsley (her faves) and we are keeping up the metacam.
How does one know when the pain meds need adapting though? (I know we'll know when the time comes for you-know-what, been there done that got the sad t-shirt)

 

[helen105281]

I would take any change in behaviour to mean her meds may need a tweak. So if she is suddenly not as active or off her food you could speak to your vet about increasing the dose.