Animal Hospital
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Feline Thyroid Treatment Center at VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital WHAT IS FELINE HYPERTHYROIDISM? The thyroids are paired glands located adjacent to the trachea in the neck. These glands produce a hormone that controls the metabolic rate. When a cat becomes hyperthyroid, these glands produce an excess of this hormone, which accelerates wear and tear on the cat’s internal organs. Clinical signs in your cat are the result of “run-away” metabolism and include: - cardiomyopathy (heart disease) - hypertension (high blood pressure) - gastrointestinal disorders (vomiting, diarrhea) - dermatopathy (skin disorders, hair loss) - osteoporosis (loss of bone density) - renal disease (kidney disease) - behavior changes (aggression, depression or apathy) - inappropriate elimination excessive thirst and urination HOW IS HYPERTHYROIDISM DIAGNOSED? A thorough physical examination once yearly (or semi-annually for cats over 10 years of age) may alert your vet to subtle changes in your cat. Annual screening with blood work including thyroid hormone (T4) testing, blood pressure measurement and palpation of the thyroid glands is essential. It is important to diagnose the disease before the clinical signs become apparent. Often hyperthyroidism is detected on routine geriatric screening or pre-dental blood work. WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? Medical Management: Conventional medical treatment consists of twice daily administration of an anti-thyroid drug called methimazole (Tapazole). This drug does not kill the abnormal cells or cure the disease. It works by blocking the incorporation of iodine into the thyroid hormone during its manufacture inside the thyroid cell. Surgical Management: When only one lobe is removed, the disease recurs in 70 – 90% of the cases within 2 years. If both lobes are removed, the cat will likely require hormone replacement. Surgical removal of the cervical thyroids (tissue in the neck) may not address the presence of ectopic thyroid tissue in other parts of the body, usually in the chest. The inherent risks of the surgery include anesthesia of a geriatric patient with varying degrees of heart disease, and the risk of damaging the parathyroid glands that share capsular tissue with the thyroid. Radioactive Iodine Therapy: Radioactive iodine therapy is now considered the treatment of choice for feline hyperthyroidism. The therapy is 96% effective with one treatment. Rarely a cat may require a second dose. How do we identify a good candidate for therapy? Age is not a factor. We have treated cats from 3 years of age to 20 years of age. The cat must be in reasonably good health, that is, have no underlying disease that will be adversely affected when the metabolism and blood pressure returns to normal. Your vet will provide us with recent chemistries, T4 values, complete blood count and urinalysis. We will examine the cat, obtain an indirect blood pressure, an electrocardiogram, chest and abdominal radiographs, and perform cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) and an abdominal ultrasound. How does the therapy work? The dose of 131-iodine is supplied in 0.2ml volume in an insulin syringe and is administered subcutaneously between the shoulders. Your cat will not feel the injection. The 131 iodine is absorbed immediately to the circulation where it saturates the abnormal thyroid cells for about 12 hours. Normal thyroid cells do not absorb the iodine because they are atrophied. Since the thyroid is the only tissue that utilizes iodine, only the active (abnormal) thyroid cells will absorb the iodine. Over the next 36 – 48 hours, the iodine that has not been absorbed by the thyroid cells will be excreted by the cat primarily into the urine. This is why they must remain in our care for this period. Within days the abnormal cells will be destroyed by the intracellular beta radiation and the T4 levels will start to decline. What side effects may I see? While there are no direct side effects, we sometimes see the cat become quiet, almost lethargic and eat less during a transient period before the atrophied normal tissue begins to make hormone. We rarely see a cat develop a “sore throat” 3-7 days after the therapy. This is the result of the mild inflammatory reaction in the thyroid while the body is absorbing the dying thyroid cells. We call this radiation thyroiditis. It is usually self-limiting with anti-inflammatory medication. With thyroiditis, the cat appears hungry but may have difficulty swallowing. Finally, rarely, we see a change in vocalization (hoarse meow) that is usually transient. What is the cost of the therapy? The package, including flushable litter for appropriate home care, antioxidants and diagnostic procedures (echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, EKG, Blood Pressure), is $1200. These additional diagnostic tests insure the safety of your cat and the efficacy of the therapy. Should additional blood tests be required, or if medication were dispensed, there would be an additional charge. What follow up does my cat need? Each case is unique and in some cases, Dr. Williams would like your cat seen in 2 weeks or sooner. Most cases will have their first follow up at 30 days post therapy. Your vet will receive a summary of the diagnostic findings and the recommendations for tests that Dr. Williams would like to have performed at the examination. Your primary care veterinarian will then forward the results Dr. Williams. If your cat experiences any complications within the first few months following the therapy, Dr. Williams would be happy to consult with you and your veterinarian. If you experience any problems or have any questions during the first month following the therapy, please call Dr. Williams at Feline Health 888 CAT I-131 (228-4131). 
Feline Thyroid Treatment Center VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital Dr. Rosemarie Williams 1-888-CAT-I131 (888-228-4131) VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital welcomes Dr. Rosemarie Williams in the relocation of her iodine and thyroid treatment center formerly at The Cat Hospital of Auburn, Massachusetts. The Feline Thyroid Treatment Center at VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital is centrally located in New England with easy access from the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 91. The new facility features large custom cat condos with numerous feline amenities. The Feline Thyroid Treatment Center has the ability to treat unexpected medical emergencies (e.g. stabilize congestive heart failure) evident at the time of referral appointment or during iodine treatment and continues to offer 3-day release following routine I-131 treatments. Each cat and client receives personal evaluation and follow-up by Dr. Williams. Each patient will consult with Dr. Williams and be evaluated with blood pressure, ECG, radiographs, echocardiogram and abdominal ultrasound. The referring veterinarian will be included in the treatment plan in cases that require more intensive management and a complete report and digital copy of echocardiogram and ultrasound will be provided to the referring veterinarian on discharge of the patient. Dr. Williams is always available to consult on cases post therapy. Dr. Williams has treated more than 2500 cats at two locations with radioactive iodine and has a 97% cure. To date, this is the only thyroid treatment center offering multiple low dose therapy for selected cases. The package, priced at $1200, includes an evaluation, diagnostic procedures (echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, EKG and blood pressure), a three-day stay in the hospital, flushable cat litter for home care, antioxidants and Iodine treatment. Any extra laboratory tests, medications, or additional boarding after the discharge period (if desired) would be additional. Detailed information on Feline Hyperthyroidism and Iodine 131 therapy may be obtained at the following link: www.thesoundcat.com Questions or inquiries may be emailed to Dr. Williams at felinethyroid@aol.com |
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