My cat has hyperthyroidism symptoms. How much are vet tests?

If he does have a lump in his throat and has lost weight in the past year, then hyperthyroidism is a possibility. Costs will very from clinic to clinic and area to area, but as a ballpark, a blood test for thyroid function alone could be around 47 pounds, where a blood test for an old thin cat (that should cover the thyroid as well) could be around 100 pounds. There are three treatment options for hyperthyroidism: medication, surgery, or radioactive iodine. Each treatment has advantages and disadvantages, and the treatment choice depends on your cat's health, including heart and kidney function. Again, the cost will vary for each treatment, and your vet can let you know how much it could all potentially cost. There is nothing you can do for him at home to slow the disease, it's best that he's seen by a vet as soon as you can get him to one. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Carefree Credit online. http://www.carefreecredit.co.uk https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare http://www.easipetcare.com

Hi, it depends on the test. If you suspect your cat has diabetes, you could just start with a urine test which is pretty cheap but can give lots of information. If your cat has diabetes and is on treatment your vet might recommend a general biochemistry panel, check her pancreas, and a fructosamine test, depending on his clinical findings and that would be more expensive. We also perform blood glucose curves in cats that suffer with diabetes, to see if the insulin dosage is appropriate.. I would recommend to see your vet and discuss all the various options with him. Hope this helps !

The cost of the medication shouldn't be too expensive. It depends on your location and how much you will be administering. The monitoring of thyroid function may cost more than the actual medication. You always have the option of requesting a written prescription from your veterinarian and shopping online or at larger pharmacies for the best price.

Hi there. Hyperthyroidism can cause symptoms like increased vocalization and irritability, weight loss, increased appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, and/or increased drinking and urination. It also contributes to high blood pressure, and is hard on the heart and kidneys long-term. If Midnite's thyroid levels are high, treatment would generally be recommended to address this.

According to the PetHealth network, testing involves: Complete blood count to look at the white and red blood cells and platelets Chemistry panel to look at the kidney and liver function Electrolytes to look at the calcium, phosphorous, and salt balance (e.g., sodium, potassium, etc.) Urinalysis to look for the presence of an underlying infection, crystals, or appropriate urine concentration Urine culture to rule out an underlying urinary tract infection Feline leukemia (FELV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) X-rays to rule out underlying cancer, bladder stones, or evidence of mineralization of tissue (secondary to hypercalcemia) Ultrasound to rule out underlying cancer, bladder stones, or inappropriate mineralization Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-rP concentration (parathyroid hormone related protein) levels. With hyperparathyroidism, the PTH levels are typically normal to high. With hypercalcemia of malignancy, PTH-rP concentrations are typically elevated. With idiopathic hypercalcemia in cats, PTH levels and PTH-rP levels are typically low. This can be expensive, but necessary to get to the cause. I would speak to Sammy's vet to discuss what tests should be done first. Best of luck.

Increased thirst and urination can be commom symptoms of many disease processes and you are right that the first things we check for are metabolic (kidney disease, diabetes, etc.). The answer to your question is both. A urinalysis should always be performed as part of a blood panel, otherwise you are missing crucial information. Your vet will likely order a senior kitty wellness panel from an outside lab which will include cbc, chemistry panel, thyroid testing, and urinalysis. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I'm sorry you lost your other cat and that Bird is now showing symptoms of another disease. The most common diseases in older cats are renal failure, hyperthyrodism and diabetes. It is really not a wise decision to give Bird any of the other cats medications. Just because you think she looks like she has symptoms of hyperthyroidism doesn't mean she actually has it. As a vet, I have been fooled many times. You could certainly kill her by doing this or make things worse. Even if she is hyperthyroid she may not need the same dose that the other cat was on. If she is that stressed getting to the vet I would ask your vet if they would be willing to make a house call to draw blood as that is the way to diagnose this issue. The other option is to find a mobile vet in your area that could come to your house. I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask!