Elderly cat

sandy2_2

I think I'd go to another vet

rita-rabbit

I agree - or phone PDSA, or RSPCA to see if they can assist/recommend another (better) vet

ajb69

As I understand it (and speaking as someone owning a cat with a thyroid problem), you can only check for thyroid issues by either:

* palpating the cat's neck to check for an enlarged gland (but this is not conclusive, as some cats' thyroids are too deep inside their chest to feel)
* blood tests (which cost me £70, but which will absolutely confirm or deny if there is an issue)

Did you mention thyroid to the vet? I'm surprised it wasn't one of the first things they checked, given that cat's age. Here's some more info (albeit with a bit of advertising) - http://www.hyperthyroidcat.co.uk/home.htm

For what it's worth, most cats don't need surgery if it is caught early enough - just a small pill once or twice a day, plus a blood test every 6-12 months or so (or if they start behaving oddly). The pills themselves are very cheap - a few pence - so it is not an expensive illness to manage, and they can really change the quality of life; our 17-year old now behaves like a kitten again!

Cheers

Drew

mary43

Thanks..........yes I did mention thyroid and she said to see how she went on and go back for more tests if needed .......thankfully she seems to have settled down (maybe she knew I was talking about her....!) Her itching has stopped and she's healed up so maybe I wasn't giving her enough time after the injections. Still have the 'toilet' problem but I'm putting that down to it being so cold and her being an old cat.

I'll keep an eye on her and see how she gets on.........there is another vet in the town I might go to if she starts scratching again.

Thanks for your help.

Kimble_Berresford

Firstly, there is not enough information given to cat owners - with cats over 7 years old - about hypothyroidism.

My little boy cat Sammie - aged 16 - is a house cat and hasn't had a days illness in his life. When I felt a small lump on his neck, he was straight to the vets. What a shock to be told tests were needed to diagnose a possible fatal illness. 2 days later they wanted to operate on him to take away the toxic thyroid and the nodule growing on it. This was so stressful and emotional. The thyroid was hyperthyroid but the nodule was cancerous. Apparently only 2% of cats in the world have a cancerous growth. My cat had been as fit as a fiddle before the trip to the vet showing no signs of hypothyroidism. I could have easily left it a couple of weeks before taking him to be diagnosed and not worried about it (as I hate paying inflated Vet Fees), What a mistake that would have been!! The cancer would have migrated down into his chest cavity and it is notoriously difficult to cure once in the chest.

Its now 2 months since that operation. He is going through another operation as I write this to remove the other thyroid and another nodule. He has shown no signs of illness until last week when weight has dropped off him, he is half the size within 7 days and is off his food. He was put on Beta Blockers to regulate his heart as this illness makes their heart race over 200 beats a minute.

This illness, if ignored can also cause heart failure, renal failure and liver failure. IT IS SERIOUS> Yet have you ever come across an article in a Cat Magazine making you aware of it and its symptoms?? Even if you take away the cancerous element, Hypothyroidism can cause a horrible death if ignored.

Secondly, Vets fees. My cat isn't insured as he has been such a healthy cat. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get your cat insured.

The 1st operation plus tests cost £900 local vet. TESTs - Liverpool Hospital for Small Animals -targeted xrays/ultrasound/bloods £800. More Blood tests to monitor T4 Thyroid levels etc. £250 local vet. New Vet and operation today £600. Possible Radio iodine Therapy if bloods show continued thyroid activity (cats have 6 thyroids in their chest) Bristol University Veterinary School £2,500 - £3,000. (The same treatment at one of the MANY Cat Hypo Centres in America £600.) (Scotland is cheaper too, shop around if not insured)

I have paid twice as much for treatment for my cat than I would at the best private BUPA Hospital for myself. Shop around for reduced fees, my 2nd vet is far cheaper than my local vet, but 20 miles away. Insurance is the only way to ensure that your well loved cat gets the best treatment. I am on very very low pay and have sold off many personal items to meet these bills. It is an added worry that you can live without. If you have a cat, however old, try and get insurance, it will work out so much cheaper.
All prayers welcome for Sammie in the hope that he gets through this second operation and hopefully returns back to his normal Tigger like self, and I can return to being a normal Cat Mum, instead of an emotional, stressed wreck. Once it is all over I am going to start a campaign for more knowledge of this disease to be given to cat owners. Watch this space.

If anyone needs any info regarding Radio Iodine Therapy or this illness, please contact me as I have scoured the UK for the best and cost effective treatments. Plus I have also contacted vets in America who are far more switched on about this illness and charge far less, and are more than happy to treat UK cats. (Yes, I know about the problems taking your cat out of the country and trying to get back in again. Lets just say there are hundreds of people enter the UK illegally every day, so there is obviously going to be a way of getting your animal back in. It depends on how "legal" you want to be.) Please don't condemn me for exploring all possibilities. My cat has given me 16 years of love, attention and sheer joy. I will try and move mountains for him to have the best treatment. Stay healthy and happy, and get insured. Love to all cat and animal lovers.

Kimble_Berresford

Firstly, there is not enough information given to cat owners - with cats over 7 years old - about hypothyroidism.

My little boy cat Sammie - aged 16 - is a house cat and hasn't had a days illness in his life. When I felt a small lump on his neck, he was straight to the vets. What a shock to be told tests were needed to diagnose a possible fatal illness. 2 days later they wanted to operate on him to take away the toxic thyroid and the nodule growing on it. This was so stressful and emotional. The thyroid was hyperthyroid but the nodule was cancerous. Apparently only 2% of cats in the world have a cancerous growth. My cat had been as fit as a fiddle before the trip to the vet showing no signs of hypothyroidism. I could have easily left it a couple of weeks before taking him to be diagnosed and not worried about it (as I hate paying inflated Vet Fees), What a mistake that would have been!! The cancer would have migrated down into his chest cavity and it is notoriously difficult to cure once in the chest.

Its now 2 months since that operation. He is going through another operation as I write this to remove the other thyroid and another nodule. He has shown no signs of illness until last week when weight has dropped off him, he is half the size within 7 days and is off his food. He was put on Beta Blockers to regulate his heart as this illness makes their heart race over 200 beats a minute.

This illness, if ignored can also cause heart failure, renal failure and liver failure. IT IS SERIOUS> Yet have you ever come across an article in a Cat Magazine making you aware of it and its symptoms?? Even if you take away the cancerous element, Hypothyroidism can cause a horrible death if ignored.

Secondly, Vets fees. My cat isn't insured as he has been such a healthy cat. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get your cat insured.

The 1st operation plus tests cost £900 local vet. TESTs - Liverpool Hospital for Small Animals -targeted xrays/ultrasound/bloods £800. More Blood tests to monitor T4 Thyroid levels etc. £250 local vet. New Vet and operation today £600. Possible Radio iodine Therapy if bloods show continued thyroid activity (cats have 6 thyroids in their chest) Bristol University Veterinary School £2,500 - £3,000. (The same treatment at one of the MANY Cat Hypo Centres in America £600.) (Scotland is cheaper too, shop around if not insured)

I have paid twice as much for treatment for my cat than I would at the best private BUPA Hospital for myself. Shop around for reduced fees, my 2nd vet is far cheaper than my local vet, but 20 miles away. Insurance is the only way to ensure that your well loved cat gets the best treatment. I am on very very low pay and have sold off many personal items to meet these bills. It is an added worry that you can live without. If you have a cat, however old, try and get insurance, it will work out so much cheaper.
All prayers welcome for Sammie in the hope that he gets through this second operation and hopefully returns back to his normal Tigger like self, and I can return to being a normal Cat Mum, instead of an emotional, stressed wreck. Once it is all over I am going to start a campaign for more knowledge of this disease to be given to cat owners. Watch this space.

If anyone needs any info regarding Radio Iodine Therapy or this illness, please contact me as I have scoured the UK for the best and cost effective treatments. Plus I have also contacted vets in America who are far more switched on about this illness and charge far less, and are more than happy to treat UK cats. (Yes, I know about the problems taking your cat out of the country and trying to get back in again. Lets just say there are hundreds of people enter the UK illegally every day, so there is obviously going to be a way of getting your animal back in. It depends on how "legal" you want to be.) Please don't condemn me for exploring all possibilities. My cat has given me 16 years of love, attention and sheer joy. I will try and move mountains for him to have the best treatment. Stay healthy and happy, and get insured. Love to all cat and animal lovers.

lowis

Kimble so sorry your cat is unwell, it is very tough nursing our little furbabies, they seem so helpless. I just nursed one though cancer into remission, but then the cancer came back 18 months later, my poor baby had become quite weak and I decided it was best for her to go to sleep forever, her body would not have coped with more chemo. Very tough decision, but she didn't get to a point where she was in pain, which was very important to me. The kindest thing I did for her was to ensure I said goodbye at the right time for her, not for me.

I would say, that taking a sick cat to America might actually do the cat more harm than good - especially if it is being 'smuggled' somehow. An 8 hour flight is horrid for a well cat, even if it is being transported in comfort, let alone an elderly sick cat being stashed away in a bag or something.

If it was me, I would ask my UK vet how experienced or knowledgable he is about my cats illness, and I would also do some research myself and prompt my vet with questions if I felt he was missing anything that I had read about. (Luckily my vet had a particular interest in feline lymphoma so he was very up to speed on latest developments). If you are not happy with your vets performance or knowledge then shop arounsd for another one.

Good luck with Sammie, I hope once this operation is done that the other thyroids remain healthy x

jaycat62

Tcs...any news of your kitty? Sorry they were not feeling too good.