My cat won't take thyroid meds. Are there easier ways or radiation?

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.

Unregulated thyroid disease varies by patient but can have many adverse effects including severe weight loss, distress and heart/circulation complications. There are treatment options which avoid regular/at home medications for which he may be a suitable candidate and I strongly recommend you discuss your issues with your vet to determine if these are an option or if referral to an endocrinology/internal medicine specialist maybe of help. Dietary control can also be of assistance in managing overactive thyroid cases and should be considered, especially in hard to manage cases. Offering the medications in a small (teaspoon) of warm strongly smelling soft food or treats/pill pockets just before feeding when hungry (remove all other food options for 4-6hrs before this) can help also

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.

The radiation is good treatment option, however it's important start with the oral pill (methimazole) first to make sure his body tolerates having lower thyroid levels first. When we get the thyroid disease under control sometimes we uncover kidney disease that was always there. The other down sides of A131 are cost, availability of the treatment (you have to go to a facility, this isn't something your vet can do), and the process (needing to stay at the facility, I believe it's 3 days but you'd have to check on the protocol at your local facility).

I-131 (radioactive iodine) is a fantastic option if your cat's T4 (thyroid hormone) and kidney values on bloodwork have remained stable while she's been taking methimazole. In fact, it's considered the gold standard treatment modality in cats that are considered good candidates. There are some cats that have existing kidney disease "unmasked" once treatment for hyperthyroidism begins, so these cats are not considered good candidates for I-131 therapy. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that requires lifelong management, so your vet is correct in stating that treatment should continue indefinitely. However, you're correct in that you may have another good option. Methimazole is not advantageous over I-131. If anything, it has more potential side effects than I-131, but we use it since the good far outweighs the bad for the vast majority of cases. Few specialty hospitals actually administer I-131, but if you have one in your area, it is absolutely worth scheduling a consultation to help determine if your cat is a good candidate for this treatment modality. I hope that everything goes well!

No that is uncommon. Many cats do not do well with diet changes and he certainly had a poor reaction to the food. Continue with his old diet. If you are unable to give oral medication you can have the medication made into a gel that you can rub on the ear flap where it will be absorbed through the skin. A compounding pharmacy can do this for you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Theo.

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.