Hyperthyroidism In Cats Treatment Cost
Treatment of cats for feline hyperthyroidism with Radioactive Iodine I-131 is the preferred method of therapy and well as in humans.
Hyperthyroidism in cats treatment cost. The cost of any treatment for feline hyperthyroidism is significant. Medical therapy surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. In a study of 524 hyperthyroid cats treated with I-131 1.
In 97 of cases the cause of hyperthyroidism is one or more benign non-cancerous. However over the life of the pet. Less than 025 of the cats treated required supplementation for hypothyroidism.
Medical treatment seems less expensive at the outset because methimazole is not a very expensive drug especially at the doses used on cats but if you have a relatively young cat the cost of medical treatment between the pills and the frequent blood tests needed to monitor thyroid function will actually exceed the cost of I-131 therapy in the long run. Each offer a strong possibility of returning thyroid hormone levels to normal values and the prognosis for cats with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism is good. Leaves many cats still needing I-131 therapy even after undergoing one or more surgeries.
There are three treatment options for hyperthyroidism. Eight of the 524 15 cats remained hyperthyroid 6 months following treatment requiring additional therapy. Hyperthyroidism results when the thyroid gland over-produces thyroid hormones.
Radioiodine or radioactive iodine therapy is the gold-standard treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. Despite most hyperthyroid cats being quite old surgery usually produces dramatic results. Treatment failures of hyperthyroidism in cats.
The cost of any treatment for feline hyperthyroidism is significant. I had not one but two cats who developed hyperthyroidism. The increase in thyroid hormone if left untreated will cause a number of problems - weight loss heart problems blood pressure problems and possibly blindness.