HYPERTHYROIDISM IN CATS
A Review of Treatment Alternatives
The thyroid analysis (T4) we performed on your cat indicates that (s)he is suffering from hyperthyroidism. This is almost always secondary to a benign tumor of one (or both) thyroid glands. This is a clinically manageable (indeed, curable) disease, and we encourage you to begin treatment immediately. Treatment alternatives include:
- Radioiodine treatment This procedure is safe, effective and expensive (approximately $1200.00). This treatment is performed in White Plains, New York by "Radiocat." Treatment requires a 5-7 day stay in hospital, until the excretion of radioactive iodine in the urine ceases. A complete blood panel and chest x-rays are needed before the referral is made. Radioiodine treatment is highly effective and very safe. Three months after treatment resting thyroid levels are tested in our office. We have yet to find a patient who needs thyroid supplementation after treatment. At this time radioiodine therapy is the recommended approach for the majority of our patients.
- Medical suppression of the thyroid gland. Oral medication is given to prevent production of thyroid hormones. Side effects, if they occur, generally surface within the first 1-2 months of use. Should side effects occur, they are rapidly dissipated by stopping administration of methimazole. Treatment is generally effective. Costs (if side effects are not encountered) include recheck visits at 1 and 2 months after initiation, monitoring of blood parameters, and then rechecks every 3-6 months for life. Each visit (with blood tests) costs $80.00 to $90.00.
- Medical suppression followed by surgical removal of the offending gland(s). Patients should be euthyroid (that is, normal) prior to anesthesia to reduce risks of hypertension and heart disease associated with the effects of hyperthyroidism. Therefore, medication is given for 3-4 weeks prior to scheduling surgery. Our success rate with this procedure is very high, and the vast majority of our patients were handled in this way before radioiodine became readily available. A few patients require removal of both glands. This results in a small risk of transient post-op parathyroid dysfunction which may require additional management. There are special situations for which surgery may be the therapy of choice. An estimate of surgical charges can be amended to this report.
In summary, hyperthyroidism in cats is a life-threatening problem if untreated, but may be successfully managed in a number of different ways, each of which offers its own risk/cost/benefit matrix. If you have any further questions regarding a treatment plan for your cat, please call us at the office at any time.
Pound Ridge Veterinary Center
35 Westchester Avenue
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
ph: 914.764.4644
fx: 914.764.4202
em: LAKaddatz@poundridgevet.com
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