Community Chat

[shiningstar]

Does anyone have a cat with this condition? I wanted to know what form of treatment you went with.

The vet said my options were radiation (very expensive), pills, gel to administer in his ear, or change of diet (prescription food).

On my budget, I know the radiation is out and the pills will be a nightmare to get him to take. I read where the gel may cause side effects. I was going to choose the change of diet, but he is real finicky on what he eats.

Has anyone tried any of these treatments and how was the overall results with this condition?

[lynne6was7]

I have used the ear cream for two kitties because they weren't pill takers. I would alternate ears. I didn't notice any side effects that I connected to the ear cream. Eventually they did need IV fluids on a regular basis, and developed high blood pressure but it's my understanding that both are tied to the thyroid issues.

Be sure to wear a latex glove so you don't get the medication on your skin.

Best of luck.

[okBlonde]

My cat Snowbell (now at the Bridge) became hyperthyroid the last 2 years of her life and I opted for pills, but I wish I'd chosen Radiocat....she was stressed when I pilled her, there were numerous blood works done, and by the time I spent all that money it was probably as high as the $1500.00 that Radiocat would have cost. At the end her thyroid became totally wacky and I sent her to the Bridge (although at the end it could have been her kidneys, too, but the lab work wasn't showing it that way....but it does mask kidney disease).

[midwestgal]

My Sami Jo had feline hyperthyroidism for 5 years before she went to the Bridge at age 17. I opted to use the ear cream because I'm alone and I found it less stressful for her and me than pills. I don't recall any side effects. I had 3 other cats at that time and using prescription food didn't seem like a good option, but had she been younger when diagnosed, I might have considered radiation. She seemed to remain very stable until the last 6 weeks of her life, so I feel like her treatment did give her a good quality of life.

[Suzy Q from PA]

My cat had this disease. He was older- about 13 when we noticed the constant eating and weight loss. Vet did tests and that was diagnosis. Vet thought cat was too old for radiation considering the expense. We started off with pills/pill pockets and it worked for a few months, but cat started losing his hair. So we went to food- expensive and cat would not eat it and finally ended up using gel in ear. Gel worked for a year or so and then cat started losing more weight even with increased dosage. Poor thing got down to about 5 pounds even though he ate cans of food a day(no dry food- no teeth)and slept almost 24/7 and we finally had him put down. It was heartbreaking, as he had been a buddy for years and years.

[lolakimono]

I did Radiocat and it was money well spent. My MC is 16 years old and was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. They take financing through Care Credit, so I got 6 months with no interest which worked out well. We did the pills for about two days, but she was a complete zombie and was barely able to walk. Once we discontinued the pills, she perked right up. It is an expensive treatment, but the pills and constant monitoring weren't going to be an option and she was in good health otherwise. She is a tiny kitty still, but doing well!