WHATS BEST TREATMENT FOR CATS HYPERTHYROID?
By Steve Dale | 1 October 2009 Q: Our 15-year-old cat has been diagnosed with a hyperthyroid condition. The vet explained that we can choose from one of three treatments. Any advice? A: You do, indeed, have three choices, according to Atlanta, GA-based feline veterinarian Dr. Drew Weigner, including: 1. Surgery. This can cure your cat. However, as with all surgery, there’s a potential risk of complications. Hyperthyroid cats are older, and surgery may not be the best option for frail cats with additional illnesses. 2. Radioactive iodine. Your cat would be injected with a radioactive substance which destroys most of the thyroid gland. What thyroid tissue remains is plenty for most cats to function. While, this treatment has no complications or side effects, the cat must be away from home for several days. For some cats, being away from home may be too traumatic. 3. Drug therapy. The human drug Tapazole (Methimazole) work, but cats on this medication need to be monitored, and then there’
