Hyperthyroidism in youngish cat
Discussion
I was hoping to get some opinion about treatment options for our cat.
Bit of history - Lily is a rescue cat we have had for 5 years, they estimate her to be about 2yrs when we got her, but I believe she was still a kitten nearer 1yr (she doubled in size in the first 6 months to normal cat size!). Over the last few weeks she has become much more vocal, demanding food and water more than normal. Took her to vets last week to be checked. The said it was unlikely to be anything due to her age and in appearance very healthy (glossy coat etc). On thorough examine she had lost 0.5kg weight since last check 6months ago, and a heart murmur was detected. So bloods taken to be sure.
Results back today and she has hyperthyroidism. Treatment options are daily tabs or liquid with blood test every 3weeks. We've gone for tabs as I am more confident at getting these down her.
It is the next treatment options I am unsure about. Once her bloods have stabilised she can have an op to remove the thyroid or have radioactive iodine. I have read up on the op an it says there is a risk of damage to the parathyroid gland, whereas the risks of the iodine are minimal. The op can be done relatively locally, but she would have to go to heriot watt uni for iodine for around 2 weeks.
Any views which option would be best? Also I know she is very young for this (hence aggressive treatment) but does this mean it is more likely due to adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland, and if so does this need further investigation and would this effect which treat option we should choose?
Sorry for all the questions but I didn't get to speak to the vet, I got all the info relayed from my husband and he hasn't got a clue about this sort of thing, he always leaves medical stuff to me.
Bit of history - Lily is a rescue cat we have had for 5 years, they estimate her to be about 2yrs when we got her, but I believe she was still a kitten nearer 1yr (she doubled in size in the first 6 months to normal cat size!). Over the last few weeks she has become much more vocal, demanding food and water more than normal. Took her to vets last week to be checked. The said it was unlikely to be anything due to her age and in appearance very healthy (glossy coat etc). On thorough examine she had lost 0.5kg weight since last check 6months ago, and a heart murmur was detected. So bloods taken to be sure.
Results back today and she has hyperthyroidism. Treatment options are daily tabs or liquid with blood test every 3weeks. We've gone for tabs as I am more confident at getting these down her.
It is the next treatment options I am unsure about. Once her bloods have stabilised she can have an op to remove the thyroid or have radioactive iodine. I have read up on the op an it says there is a risk of damage to the parathyroid gland, whereas the risks of the iodine are minimal. The op can be done relatively locally, but she would have to go to heriot watt uni for iodine for around 2 weeks.
Any views which option would be best? Also I know she is very young for this (hence aggressive treatment) but does this mean it is more likely due to adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland, and if so does this need further investigation and would this effect which treat option we should choose?
Sorry for all the questions but I didn't get to speak to the vet, I got all the info relayed from my husband and he hasn't got a clue about this sort of thing, he always leaves medical stuff to me.
Hi there,
Had this with our ragdoll when he was 5 years old. Went down the route of tablets and it was just a waste of time.
Removing one of the Thyroid was an easy op paid for by insurance. He recovered quickly and is now back to his cheery self. I take him for check up and blood test every 6 months and 3 years after the op he is still fine.
C
Had this with our ragdoll when he was 5 years old. Went down the route of tablets and it was just a waste of time.
Removing one of the Thyroid was an easy op paid for by insurance. He recovered quickly and is now back to his cheery self. I take him for check up and blood test every 6 months and 3 years after the op he is still fine.
C
If she is only 7ish I would definitely look into iodine treatment. I would if she were mine.
I read the other day that one place only needs to to stay a few days now not the weeks it used to be.
I really think you should consider it if she had insurance. Tablets mean blood tests regularly though not every 3 weeks except at the start, usually every 3-6months unless any issues are highlighted in a test and whilst they can be a very successful treatment regime they are lifelong, which could be a long time in your case.
Surgery is not done as often as it used to be years back due to risks of damaging parathyroid as you mentioned. Not an issue if only one gland needs removing and the adjoining parathyroid is inadvertently damaged in the process but if the other one acts up later it can be an issue if parathyroid function is not retained then.
If she has iodine it will be at a referral practice usually and I would hope they would check first for other reasons for her getting it relatively young.
I read the other day that one place only needs to to stay a few days now not the weeks it used to be.
I really think you should consider it if she had insurance. Tablets mean blood tests regularly though not every 3 weeks except at the start, usually every 3-6months unless any issues are highlighted in a test and whilst they can be a very successful treatment regime they are lifelong, which could be a long time in your case.
Surgery is not done as often as it used to be years back due to risks of damaging parathyroid as you mentioned. Not an issue if only one gland needs removing and the adjoining parathyroid is inadvertently damaged in the process but if the other one acts up later it can be an issue if parathyroid function is not retained then.
If she has iodine it will be at a referral practice usually and I would hope they would check first for other reasons for her getting it relatively young.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 14th December 21:22
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 14th December 21:24
Here's a link to a short stay iodine treatment now available.
http://www.hyperthyroidcatcentre.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0K...
http://www.hyperthyroidcatcentre.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0K...
Thanks a lot Bex. I have an appointment for her next blood test on 29th Dec, so I will ask more questions about its cause and whether 1 or both glands need removing. I work in radiotherapy so know how successful radioactive iodine is in treating humans, so this treatment option does appeal to me, and it is good to hear she may not have to be away as long as I thought.
Just googled directions and the vet school where she would go is only 1 hr away compared to st Andrews where she would have the op is 40 min away, so not much different.
Thanks again.
Just googled directions and the vet school where she would go is only 1 hr away compared to st Andrews where she would have the op is 40 min away, so not much different.
Thanks again.
In such a young cat I would be pushing for the radioiodine therapy. On removing one overactive thyroid gland, the other one frequently goes overactive at some point in the not too distant future. Removing the second carries significantly higher risk. It's a bit old fashioned these days, and not done too often. If you do opt for the surgery, make sure the surgeon has done a fair few, it can be a very fiddly procedure.
You need to check if your local vet school / hospital offer the short stay course.
You need to check if your local vet school / hospital offer the short stay course.
With insurance the only ones who can offer a definitive answer would be the insurance company. That being said I would be surprised if it were not covered on any half decent policy. Radioiodine has been considered the "gold standard" for a number of years and is very much an established treatment.
jmsgld said:
With insurance the only ones who can offer a definitive answer would be the insurance company. That being said I would be surprised if it were not covered on any half decent policy. Radioiodine has been considered the "gold standard" for a number of years and is very much an established treatment.
I would agree, it should be covered. But your vets can usually do a pre authorisation form to see if it would be something they cover before it is actually done. Thanks. I'll just put a claim form in as normal and if they pay it's a bonus.
She is getting lots of cuddles and play time despite her annoying whinging for food and water!! Going to be really hard to put her in the cattery on Friday, even though it is just for a couple of days, but the desire to spend those days with my 95 yr old Nan wins out. Think Lily has a few more Christmas' left than my Nan.
She is getting lots of cuddles and play time despite her annoying whinging for food and water!! Going to be really hard to put her in the cattery on Friday, even though it is just for a couple of days, but the desire to spend those days with my 95 yr old Nan wins out. Think Lily has a few more Christmas' left than my Nan.
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