advice needed

mjf68

hi

my middle aged cat (she's nearly 12) has recently been poorly. She has had a few days at the vets and they think that she has hyperthyroid problems and are just awaiting the results of the 2nd blood tests.
The vet has told me that if she does have hyperthyroidism then i have 3 options - tablets for life, surgery or radiation therapy. I am obviously worried sick about her. Has anyone any experience/advice regarding cats with this condition and the pros and cons of the treatments they have mentioned?

Thanks for your help

melanie (and millie)

ljonski

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2767822

Sooz00

Hi Melanie & Millie

Sorry to hear about Millie. In addition to the link above, I've posted a couple of other links that might help you. It scares me how many recent posts there's been about feline hyperthyroidism. It seems to be becoming a common problem.

My 10 year old Tess was diagnosed earlier this year and so we're a few months further down the line than you. Your vet is right, if it is hyperthyroidism, they are the 3 treatments available so it will be a case of weighing up the pros and cons and which you feel Millie will be suited to.

http://www.aht.org.uk/pdf/feline_hyperthyroidism.pdf

http://www.felipedia.org/~felipedi/w...thyroidism.pdf

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2787754

I've opted for the radioactive iodine therapy. It's not invasive at all, typically just one injection, at the usual vaccination site. It destroys the abnormal tissue but leaves the healthy tissue alone. I was worried about her having surgery (and associated complications) and felt that having one injection would suit her better. The only downsides are cost (£2000 but luckily she is insured) and that she has to be hospitalised for 3 weeks until she excretes the radiation. The first week, there is very minimal contact on an isolation ward but for the second two weeks they get a bit more contact and are moved back to a standard ward. I am worried about her going away for 3 weeks but having discussed it with my vet and our specialist at the Animal Health Trust, I think it's the best option for Tess. It all feels a bit scary and very real now as her I131 has now been ordered from Amsterdam and she will be having her injection on Monday so just a few days time.

If your vet comes back confirming hyperthyroidism, they will get Millie on tablets initially. Getting her stable will help rule out other health problems (e.g. with the kidneys) and that will help you decide whether you want to keep her on tablets, opt for surgery or the I131.

There are 2 types of tablet, carbimazole and felimazole. They are very similar and one isn't any better than the other. That said, most vets tend to prescribe Vidalta Carbimazole to start with as you only have to give it once a day. I couldn't get Tess stable on that one though as it made her vomit so we switched to Felimazole which was twice a day (so no fun if your cat wont tolerate tablets!). We got her stable on those quite easily though (with only one minor side effect) and when she had blood tests 3 weeks later, her T4 was down to 37 so back in normal range.

As she was stable, we then had our appt at the AHT who did further blood tests, ultrasound etc. to check no other health problems & determine whether she was a suitable candidate for I131. She is, so we're booked in for Monday...

Anyway, apologies for my long-winded post but I hope some of this is of help. If you are thinking about the I131, let me know and I'll let you know how Tess' treatment with it goes.

Take care,

Sooz.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

One of mine had one lobe of her thyroid removed last year aged 10. She had a fortnight of tablets (put in pate, so she enjoyed the course) and she was so much healthier, she was fit for surgery within a week, where she was on the point of keeling over beforehand.

She's like a new cat now (except for the odd lump and paintstripper breath, at any rate )

mjf68

thanks for your replies -i have had millies results back - she definitely has hyperthyroidism -so now i just have to decide on the best treatment for her. I am swaying against the medication for life due to the fact that millie hates taking any tablets and it would be stressful for her (and me). So that leaves me with the options of surgery or radioactive iodine therapy. At the moment i am swaying towards the iodine treatment as it sounds less invasive and appears to have a higher success rate and less risks so i would be very grateful to Sooz if you would keep me up to date with how your cat Tess is getting on with the treatment.
Also, did any of your cats act "strangely" before they were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism?. Millie has started hiding from me occasionally which she has never done before - also where as she has always been happy as an indoor cat - she has recently been wanting to be outside all the time (usually fighting with a neighbours kitten!) -Is this part of the condition?

thanks again for your help

melanie and millie

Sooz00

Hi Melanie (and Millie too).

Can't sleep, worrying about taking my girl to the AHT tomorrow evening.

Sorry to hear the diagnosis has been confirmed. Thankfully at least it is something treatable. They can develop strange behaviour, yes. My little lovely hasn't hidden though, she's been very in-my-face, very vocal and very demanding! I think she thinks I live only to serve her!

I'll drop you a PM on Monday/Tuesday to let you know how her treatment is going. If you want to PM me your email address I can scan the printed details they gave me (more in depth stuff about the treatment) and email it across if it would be helpful.

x