There are three categories of treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats.
Hyperthyroidism in cats treatment.
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The treatment involves a single injection of radioactive iodine 131.
Treatment for hyperthyroid cats.
For some cats with hyperthyroidism feeding a special diet can keep the condition under control and regulate the level of iodine in the body which is a vital element for producing thyroid hormones.
Each offer a strong possibility of returning thyroid hormone levels to normal values and the prognosis for cats with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism is good.
Radioactive iodine therapy this is a less common form of treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats.
No healthy surrounding tissue is destroyed and no organs are damaged.
Medication and radioactive iodine therapy are just as effective at treating hyperthyroidism in cats as surgery and are less invasive so surgical treatment is rarely chosen for treating this condition.
Radioactive iodine administered once by injection.
Cats that are treated with the other modalities can be fed their usual diets or as recommended by your vet e g.
Classic clinical disease cats with uncomplicated clinical hyperthyroidism and elevated t4 these are cats with one or more clinical signs consistent with.
This leads to the destruction of the affected tissues with minimal damage to healthy glands or tissue.
Surgery may cure hyperthyroidism as long as all of the affected gland can be removed.
There are three main treatment options for hyperthyroid cats.
The therapy is administered via injection under the skin and targets the abnormal thyroid tissue with radioactive iodine.
Daily medication methimazole or feeding a low iodine diet are good options when radioiodine therapy is not an option due to financial considerations or the cat s overall health.
Medical therapy surgery or radioactive iodine treatment.
However this is only really possible for indoor only cats as if the cat eats anything else including prey the effects of this type of approach are negated.
Or radioactive iodine therapy.
Medical treatment of feline hyperthyroidism only manages the disease while surgery and radioactive iodine therapy can cure the disease.
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Cats suffering from both diseases may need treatment for both and the diagnosis of kidney disease in a cat with hyperthyroidism can affect the cat s prognosis.
Surgery is also costly.
Cats without clinical hyperthyroidism t4 within the reference interval but with enlarged thyroid gland s monitor clinical signs in these cats and repeat a serum t4 assay in 6 months.
Radioiodine treatment is the most effective treatment available for hyperthyroidism in cats making the favorable outcome one of the pros of this option.
The anesthesia administered during surgery can be challenging for older cats however as the hyperthyroidism may have affected their hearts and other organs.