My 16-year-old Tonkinese cat, Chamois, was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She has experienced a ravenous appetite, weight loss, excessive thirst and vomiting — all symptoms of the disease. Fortunately, Methimazole, a drug that reduces thyroid hormones, can be compounded into a gel that I just rub inside Chamois’ inner ear. It’s much easier than pilling! Here’s the challenge: If I get some of it on my own skin, it can affect my thyroid.

Knowing this, I was nervous the first time I administered Chamois’ medicine. Seven finger caps, which look like condoms for fingers, were included with the compounded Methimazole gel. So I pulled one over my index finger, used the syringe to place a dose of the gel on my finger tip and carefully rubbed it in Chamois’ ear. Without even thinking about it, I used my thumb as a guide, and I didn’t have a finger cap over my thumb. I washed the gel off my thumb immediately and went to the drug store to buy latex gloves. Now my whole hand is protected when I administer Chamois’ medicine.

It could be just my imagination, but she does appear to have gained a little bit of weight, and she hasn’t been vomiting as much, so I’m hopeful. If you ever need to administer this medicine to a hyperthyroid cat, I think it’s much easier than pilling, and I would invest in a box of latex gloves — they’re $5 for a box of 50.