My cat, Simon, is 12 years old and is at death's door. I took him to the vet last week because he was shaking and not eating. He had been vomiting off and on for a few months. I should've taken him to the vet sooner. I should've taken him to a DIFFERENT vet sooner. One of the vets at this clinic told me a year ago that he had a goiter. I know nothing about goiters so I asked what that meant - what the implications were for Simon. She said,"He'll develop an enormous appet*ite. He'll eat everything in sight. He'll probably jump into your kitchen sink and start pulling things out of the garbage disposal to eat." I laughed. She laughed. That was the end of the discussion. I paid and left.

A year later he has gone from a healthy 16 lbs. to an emaciated 11 lbs. He'll eat infinitesimally small amounts of food every few hours. The vomiting has, thankfully, stopped. He sleeps on the floor and hunches, sitting on his feet. I spent last night and tonight researching cremation options in my area and choosing an urn.

A few hours ago I discovered that our vet's clinic has a website. They apparently run a different article on the site every month. This month's topic: hyperthyroidism. Early detection and the cat's overall health are the keys to successful treatment, it says. Hmm...would a year prior to the onset of symptoms be considered early? I'm so angry I want to go set up a picket line in front of the clinic. I want to set up a website to dissuade all possible pet owners from taking their pets there. I won't do these things because I'm too passive. Obviously that's the case otherwise I would have researched this a year ago when I might have been able to do something about it. Now Simon's almost certainly too far gone to be helped. I'll demand more blood tests of them in the morning - T4 AND T3 tests, but I don't hold out much hope. I suppose I should just accept that my baby is going to die and I can't do anything about it. I have to accept that I've learned an awful lesson - don't trust anyone to give the information I need - I must ask all the right questions and do the research. For not having done that I have no one to blame but myself. I failed him.

Hi Allie:

I'm very sorry to hear that your precious Simon isn't doing well ! Please let us know how you all make out at the veterinarian's office, okay? We care!

My precious girl Ernestine , (who has since gone to Rainbow's Bridge), developed hyperthyroidism at age 14. After removing 1/2 her thyroid and keeping her on thyroid medication, she lived happily for several more years, until she was almost 20 years old.

Please hang on to every shred of hope that you can, for Simon..... I'll be keeping you in my prayers.

Peace & Love to you & yours,

Denise

I am so sorry about Simon. I hope his disease hasn't past the point of treatment. You and Simon are in my prayers. I hope he can be treated successfully.
Theresa