How do I find a vet for my cat's hyperthyroidism specialty treatment?

Luv Bug is so very fortunate to have you as an owner. I am sure that you are one of the main reasons that she is going strong at 17 years of age. Kudos to you for your consideration and compassion for your pet. In terms of hyperthyroidism in cats, there are only three real treatments on the market today. These are methimazole treatment, thyroidectomy surgery, and radioactive iodine treatment. It is believed in the veterinary community that radioactive iodine is the gold standard treatment today. With the information you have provided, I can offer you a few possibilities for future treatment: 1. Perhaps you can get the math him is all in a tablet form to crush it into a fine powder and then mix it with any palatable substance that she likes and then squirt it in her mouth with a syringe. This, however, may cause some behavior problems because she may not like this either. 2. If you are willing to accept the costs and all of the different parts that go with the radioactive iodine treatment, I say go for it because the success rate for that specific treatment is excellent. Thank you very much for your question and I know you will make the right decision on her behalf. Have a great day.

I'm sorry you lost your other cat and that Bird is now showing symptoms of another disease. The most common diseases in older cats are renal failure, hyperthyrodism and diabetes. It is really not a wise decision to give Bird any of the other cats medications. Just because you think she looks like she has symptoms of hyperthyroidism doesn't mean she actually has it. As a vet, I have been fooled many times. You could certainly kill her by doing this or make things worse. Even if she is hyperthyroid she may not need the same dose that the other cat was on. If she is that stressed getting to the vet I would ask your vet if they would be willing to make a house call to draw blood as that is the way to diagnose this issue. The other option is to find a mobile vet in your area that could come to your house. I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask!

You can use a transdermal gel to treat Max's thyroid condition. This gel is applied to the inner ear and is absorbed through the skin. Discuss this option as well as radioactive iodine Therapy with your veterinarian. There is a company in Stamford, Connecticut that performs the treatment. Follow the link for more information. http://m.thyrocat.com/index.php

Surgery will be a definitive option and treatment won't be needed anymore in the long term. Unfortunately the down side of it is the cost and invasiveness of procedure. Medical treatment on other hand requires constant monitoring and continue treatment but it is a good option as well. The decision is very subjective, but usually where cat and client are right candidates, I tend to suggest surgery. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

So sorry she is having these problems. It sounds like she should be re-examined by a veterinarian since her signs are not well managed. Your vet may need to add in a blood pressure medication and/or an anti-seizure medication, as well as adjust her thyroid medication. If your vet is not able to manage her disease than your could go to a different vet for a second opinion or even take her to a specialist for an evaluation. Please call your vet an give him/her an update.

If he does have a lump in his throat and has lost weight in the past year, then hyperthyroidism is a possibility. Costs will very from clinic to clinic and area to area, but as a ballpark, a blood test for thyroid function alone could be around 47 pounds, where a blood test for an old thin cat (that should cover the thyroid as well) could be around 100 pounds. There are three treatment options for hyperthyroidism: medication, surgery, or radioactive iodine. Each treatment has advantages and disadvantages, and the treatment choice depends on your cat's health, including heart and kidney function. Again, the cost will vary for each treatment, and your vet can let you know how much it could all potentially cost. There is nothing you can do for him at home to slow the disease, it's best that he's seen by a vet as soon as you can get him to one. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Carefree Credit online. http://www.carefreecredit.co.uk https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare http://www.easipetcare.com

I-131 (radioactive iodine) is a fantastic option if your cat's T4 (thyroid hormone) and kidney values on bloodwork have remained stable while she's been taking methimazole. In fact, it's considered the gold standard treatment modality in cats that are considered good candidates. There are some cats that have existing kidney disease "unmasked" once treatment for hyperthyroidism begins, so these cats are not considered good candidates for I-131 therapy. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that requires lifelong management, so your vet is correct in stating that treatment should continue indefinitely. However, you're correct in that you may have another good option. Methimazole is not advantageous over I-131. If anything, it has more potential side effects than I-131, but we use it since the good far outweighs the bad for the vast majority of cases. Few specialty hospitals actually administer I-131, but if you have one in your area, it is absolutely worth scheduling a consultation to help determine if your cat is a good candidate for this treatment modality. I hope that everything goes well!