Feline Thyroid Clinic

Medical Management

Oral or transdermal antithyroid medications (methimazole) can be used to reduce excessive thyroid hormone secretion. These medications must be given for the rest of the cat's lifetime. Side effects serious enough to warrant discontinuing using these medicines occur in up to 5 percent of cats taking them and can include loss of appetite, vomiting, liver dysfunction, bone marrow suppression and allergic skin reactions. Hyperthyroid cats being maintained on antithyroid medicines should have regular blood testing (every 4-6 months) for the remainder of their lifetime. A common misconception about medical management of hyperthyroidism is that it's the least expensive way to treat the disease. Antithyroid medicines will cost up to $2.00 per day, depending on which formulation is used. Also, the periodic examinations and blood testing required two or three times yearly to accurately and safely dose these medications can cost about $150 to $200 per year. This means an owner will spend $450.00 to $700.00 per year for the rest of the cat's life to medically manage hyperthyroidism!

Dietary Management

An iodine restricted diet (Prescription Diet Y/D) can be used to control hyperthyroidism. Cats must eat ONLY the Y/D diet for this treatment option to succeed.

Surgical Management

Surgery to remove the thyroid gland(s) involves general anesthesia risk and can result in serious calcium regulation difficulties after surgery if the parathyroid glands, or their blood supply, are inadvertently damaged during surgery. Following successful surgical treatment for hyperthyroidism, 10-20 percent of cats will become hyperthyroid again in their lifetime. Surgery can be the treatment of choice in the rare hyperthyroid cat with severe medically unresponsive and life threatening congestive heart failure because one can achieve resolution of hyperthyroidism in a matter of hours. Cats with very large thyroid nodules (more than 3-4 cm diameter) can also require surgery to debulk (remove) their thyroid masses before treatment with 131I.

Radioactive Iodine (131I) Therapy

Radioactive iodine (131I) therapy takes advantage of the fact that dietary iodine is used in the body only by cells of the thyroid glands. 131I therapy uses a radioactive isotope of iodine that is administered as an injection under the skin (just like vaccines are given). The 131I will be taken up preferentially into the "most active" thyroid cells, which are the thyroid cells in the nodule(s) or tumor(s) that are overproducing thyroid hormone. The radiation energy is emitted and absorbed within a few millimeters of where the iodine accumulates in the body (i.e. the hyperthyroid tissue) and will kill these abnormal thyroid cells.

Anesthesia/sedation is not required for 131I therapy. Following 131I administration, cats are housed in individually ventilated large cages (48"x30"x30") in a shielded radiation safety room for 4 days to allow most of the radioactive iodine to be excreted and remain behind at the clinic. The 4 day stay after 131I administration is required by Oregon Radiation Protection Statutes.