My cat has hypothyroidism. What are the best treatment options?

I assume that Chetoh was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, as cats are rarely diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Typically, I treat with methimazole pills twice daily as a starting point. I find that the T4 hormone is better controlled with oral medications than the transdermal medications on the ear because absorption is variable with this method. Once hyperthyroidism is well controlled and it is apparent that the kidneys are stable, it can be worth considering I-131 (radioactive iodine) treatment, as it stops the need for medication at home in most cases. All of that said, there are still plenty of cases that I do prescribe the transdermal ear version of methimazole because some cats are extremely difficult to medicate at home. Just make sure that Chetoh follows his vet's recommendation for follow up lab testing so that his medication dosage stays appropriate.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Colby Jack. There is an not an effective over-the-counter treatment for this disease. Hyperthyroidism in cats is most commonly treated with a prescription medication. Blood work needs to be carefully monitored though. Owners who are searching for a permanent resolution of the disease can pursue radioactive iodine therapy. Finally, there is a prescription diet available from Hill's that can control the disease as long as the cat eats this particular diet exclusively. I hope this information helps!

Usually cats do well with the radio active iodine therapy. There is a chance for them to become hypo thyroid meeting they would need thyroid supplementation after the treatment. But generally speaking most cats do very well and no further treatment is needed. However your veterinarian will need to make sure there's no other underlying issues such as early kidney disease prior to doing the radio active iodine therapy. If they do find other issues then your cat may not be a good candidate for that treatment but other treatments such as daily medication or even surgery to remove part of her thyroid gland might be options.

You can use a transdermal gel to treat Max's thyroid condition. This gel is applied to the inner ear and is absorbed through the skin. Discuss this option as well as radioactive iodine Therapy with your veterinarian. There is a company in Stamford, Connecticut that performs the treatment. Follow the link for more information. http://m.thyrocat.com/index.php

Unfortunately the only food that will have a chance of working on its own it’s Hill’s. The other brands have not been formulated and studied with the same purpose. It is not the gold standard treatment for Hyperthyroidism but might work in some specific cases. Hyperthyroidism is caused by a tumour of the thyroid gland, and although benign can’t be left untreated. My personal recommendation would be to discuss other treatment options which might be more appropriate given Bob’s underlying allergies and given his relatively young age. Hope this helps !

Luv Bug is so very fortunate to have you as an owner. I am sure that you are one of the main reasons that she is going strong at 17 years of age. Kudos to you for your consideration and compassion for your pet. In terms of hyperthyroidism in cats, there are only three real treatments on the market today. These are methimazole treatment, thyroidectomy surgery, and radioactive iodine treatment. It is believed in the veterinary community that radioactive iodine is the gold standard treatment today. With the information you have provided, I can offer you a few possibilities for future treatment: 1. Perhaps you can get the math him is all in a tablet form to crush it into a fine powder and then mix it with any palatable substance that she likes and then squirt it in her mouth with a syringe. This, however, may cause some behavior problems because she may not like this either. 2. If you are willing to accept the costs and all of the different parts that go with the radioactive iodine treatment, I say go for it because the success rate for that specific treatment is excellent. Thank you very much for your question and I know you will make the right decision on her behalf. Have a great day.

If you are having trouble getting the thyroid under control, you may look into the prescription diet Science Diet Y/D. This diet works well for a lot of cats and eliminates the need for medication. You can also discuss permanent treatment such as radioactive iodine therapy. The hair loss could be due to other causes however. I recommend to call you veterinarian for next steps. Best of luck.