The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is a clinical diagnosis verified by laboratory tests. Because many factors affect thyroid laboratory test results, one normal value does not exclude the diagnosis in a symptomatic patient. Likewise, one abnormal result must be confirmed by a veterinary exam. A medical history, physical examination by a veterinarian, and diagnostic tests are required to confirm the diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism.

Options

Felines have the same therapeutic choices as human patients:

· Medication to suppress the thyroid gland
· Surgical removal of the tumor
· Radioactive iodine (I-131) injection

Medical treatment is a lifelong commitment to giving your cat a pill twice a day. Tapazole (methimazole) controls the disease; it is not a cure. Regular blood tests are required to adjust the dosage and to check for dangerous side effects. The tumor often continues to grow and the dosage must be increased. This drug has side effects including vomiting, nausea, anemia and skin excoriations.

Surgery carries the risk of anesthesia and postoperative complications, and recurrence is not uncommon.

I-131 is more than a treatment, it is a cure! Radioactivity avoids the stress and complications of surgery and the side effects and on-going expense of pills. One painless injection is all it takes and your cat goes home in 48 hours. There are no side effects. Our statistics are good: 97% of the cats given radioactive iodine do not require further treatment. 2% may require re-treatment later because of interfering medications, a larger tumor mass, or a cancerous tumor instead of a benign one. About 1% may require thyroid supplementation due to unusual sensitivity to I-131.

Costs

Oral Medication: $1.00/day or $400-$600/yr.
Continues for the rest of your cat's life. This includes the necessary blood tests to check for drug toxicity.

Surgery: Approximately $400-$1200
May need to be repeated.

Radioactive Iodine: Approximately $600-$1,600 or more.
Our reasonable price of $1,150 includes the admission examination, medical record review, isotope medication, daily radioactive monitoring, food and nursing care during hospitalization.

What happens when a cat is admitted to our Center?

Treatments start every Tuesday. Owners are asked to arrive about 8:30 am. This allows ample time for the patient, owners, hospital staff and doctors to get acquainted. The cat may have breakfast on the day of treatment. Dr. Ott examines the cat, reviews the pre-evaluation tests and x-rays, and discusses the medical history with the owner. When the cat is accepted for admission, the owner visits the treatment room.

Here is what happens in the treatment room: using an electric clipper, some fur is clipped from the patients flank area and then a small amont of saline solution containing radioactive iodine is injected. This takes less than a minute and the cat must lie still during this time.

After this painless injection, the cat goes to a cage or a spacious condo and the entertainment begins. During hospitalization, we provide favorite foods, diversions, and lots of "hands-on" care and affection. Each cat's food, linens and litter are replaced several times a day. Owners bring an old T-shirt or some socks (unwashed) that have their familiar scent, and these items are used for bedding. Some owners bring a favorite toy. We have audiotapes of birds and a VCR to play special videos made for cats (Video Catnip is a favorite). Live entertainment is provided by "Radar" our pet bird as well as rescued gerbils and/or fish. Our chef prepares special fresh food daily including chicken with broth and fresh liver or shrimp depending upon our patients tastes.

We specialize in personalized customer service and clinical excellence. Radioactive iodine therapy is our only specialty service. We give extra attention to each patient and maintain a standard of care that is equal to, or superior, to that offered by the finest medical centers for humans or animals. The patient's family is called with progress reports during hospitalization. Our patients clear 90% of the radioisotope in 48 hours because they are content while they are here-eating, drinking and relaxing.

Recovery Time

You may see improvements in your cat's behavior within a few weeks, but some cats require two or three months for all symptoms to disappear. As the cat's metabolism returns to normal, body functions slow down. The formerly hyperactive cat becomes calmer. Along with a slower heartbeat and respiration, changes may include weight gain, better grooming, less vomiting, reduced appetite, fewer visits to the litter box, and more sleeping. Some cats gain one or more pounds in the first month. About 50% have normal thyroid blood tests after a month and the others reach euthyroid levels by 3 months.

Post Treatment Care

Using a Geiger counter, each patient's radioactivity is monitored daily to ensure that the cat is clearing the isotope. Our radiation safety program requires a cat remain hospitalized until its radioactivity has dropped to very low levels that pose no threat to other pets or family members.

When the cat goes home after two days at the Center, it poses no danger to the family. We recommend that owners take a few common sense precautions for the next two weeks to limit their exposure to any residual radioactivity. Discharge instructions are reviewed with each owner and they receive a take home copy and additional reference materials.

The residual radioactivity is in the cat's body secretions and excretions and a small amount is retained in the thyroid tissue. The cat does not need to be isolated, but pregnant women and children under the age of 18 years should not take care of the cat during the two weeks after treatment.

The small amount of isotope remaining, less than 10%, will pass in the urine and feces to the litter box. Until it passes, it generates low levels of gamma radiation. We recommend wearing rubber gloves when changing the litter and limiting your snuggling time with your cat to 10 minutes a day. At a distance of three feet from the cat, there is minimal exposure to radiation.

If you have questions regarding the treatment of Feline Hyperthyroidism and how we can help your cat, visit the contacts page and fill out the Inquiry Form and a representative will contact you.