Hyperthyroidism In Cats Treatment Uk

In the vast majority of cases a definitive diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is based on a simple blood test that shows elevated t 4 levels in the bloodstream.

Hyperthyroidism in cats treatment uk. Your vet will initially stabilise your cat s condition with anti thyroid medication before performing surgery. Hyperthyroid cats may have normal findings on the cbc and urinalysis but the chemistry panel often shows elevation of several liver enzymes. Treatment for hyperthyroid cats the gold standard therapy is radioiodine i 131 treatment which can cure the hyperthyroidism in most cases. Each offer a strong possibility of returning thyroid hormone levels to normal values and the prognosis for cats with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism is good.

This is a less common form of treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. For some cats with hyperthyroidism feeding a special diet can keep the condition under control and regulate the level of iodine in the body which is a vital element for producing thyroid hormones. Many treatment options are available and well managed hyperthyroid cats can live for many years. Symptoms tend to develop slowly but hyperthyroidism is serious and can be fatal if left untreated.

Two drugs are different but closely related so some cats will respond better to one than the other. Early signs may be hard to recognise because the increased appetite and high levels of activity often seen are not always recognised as abnormal. There are several licensed medications available in the uk for hyperthyroidism in cats. If your pet is not responding well to their medical treatment your veterinary surgeon may recommend trying the alternative.

Hyperthyroidism causes weight loss increased appetite restlessness and many other symptoms. When available radioactive iodine therapy is the treatment of choice for cats with hyperthyroidism. This leads to the destruction of the affected tissues with minimal damage to healthy glands or tissue. Daily medication methimazole or feeding a low iodine diet are good options when radioiodine therapy is not an option due to financial considerations or the cat s overall health.

The therapy is administered via injection under the skin and targets the abnormal thyroid tissue with radioactive iodine. During treatment radioactive iodine is administered as an injection and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. A common solution for cats suffering with hyperthyroidism is to surgically remove the affected tissues an operation which is known as a thyroidectomy. It often provides a long term or permanent cure in most cats.