Marty's Vet Visit

myboys15

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I do not know what to feel right now. I cannot think very clearly. I took Marty to the vet yesterday. The dr found a nodule on his thyroid gland. I feel like such a bad mommy right now. Marty has been exhibiting the classic symptoms of Hyperthyroidism and I did not know. He has become agitated and he has been pacing the house since his brother past away (11-15-06). I thought that he was grieving. I have to call the vet soon to get the tests results, but I am not expecting her to say that all is well.
 

pami

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Oh Sweety, Im so sorry. Here's sending (((((((((healthy vibes))))))))))) to Marty


All of you have been grieving, its understandable that you didnt realize. You have been through so much, already. Take it easy on yourself. You are a good Mommy.
 

kittenkiya

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I'll bet you feel like you got hit with a baseball bat. I am so very, very sorry.

Hopefully it will not be as bad as you think, and there will be medicine that your baby can take that will make it better.

Hugs and kitty kisses, sooooothing headbuts and healing licks from KittenKiya's Clan
 

cloud_shade

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You are not a bad meowmy. You took your kitty to the vet, right? It's very normal for cats to grieve. It seems to be pretty common for one cat to become ill shortly after the other one passes. I'm not sure why that is, but I've heard several other people express the same situation. I'm guessing it's because cats are so good at hiding their illness normally, but they can't hold it together while they are grieving or something. Actually, it happens with people too--my grandmother fell apart after my grandfather died, as though she could finally admit she was ill too.

Anyhow, now that you know, hyperthyroidism is very treatable. The best possible treatment is the most expensive upfront (though it can save you money in the long run). It's called radioiodine treatment, also referred to as I-131 for the isotope of iodine that is used. It tends to be about $1000 to $1500 depending on your state. The cat stays in a special facility for several days (again the length depends on your state) until most of the radioiodine leaves the body. Some people are reluctant to go this route if their cat has other issues, such as kidney problems. However, not doing the procedure doesn't make kidney problems go away--it just means managing two illnesses at the same time. The best part of this option is that it offers a cure in most (about 95%) of the cases.

The second option, which is more commonly used, is medication. The medication is called Tapazole (generic: methimazole), and it can be bought at human pharmacies as well as from the vet. You can shop around to find the cheapest place and have your vet write a prescription. Some vets want to do a trial on methimazole before agreeing to refer you to an I-131 facility. There are cats who have done well on the medication for as long as 5 years, but the medication can be hard on the liver, and it is a treatment, not a cure. Blood tests need to be done periodically to verify that the medication is still keeping the thyroid levels in check, and sometimes adjustments need to be made.

The third option is surgery to remove the lobe of the thyroid. It is not recommended in most cases because even if one lobe is removed, the other may have a nodule as well. Also, the thyroid glands are very small and are attached to the even smaller parathyroid glands. If the parathyroid glands are damaged, the cat may end up hypercalcemic (the parathyroid glands regulate the calcium level in the blood). This is very dangerous. If you do choose the surgery route, be sure to find a surgeon who is very experienced in thyroid removal.

A few people have had success with homeopathic treatments, but there have been no long term studies proving their effectiveness, and many people have been very unsuccessful.

The final option is a very poor option, which is no treatment at all. Hyperthyroidism speeds up the cat's metabolism, which taxes all of their organs, especially the heart. It's not uncommon for hyperthyroid cats to have evidence of heart damage, usually cardiomyopathy, and heart murmurs. Sometimes they need treatment with heart medication; other times, the condition is mild enough to wait. An untreated hyperthyroid cat will become extremely thin and eventually starve to death because they cannot take in enough nutrients to keep powering their metabolism.

My hyperthyroid boy was Spot. I found him, age unknown, on September 7, 2004. He stayed with me until April 8, 2006. He was treated on methimazole, except for the times after we attempted I-131 (he was the extremely rare case that didn't respond to treatment). He did well on methimazole but had an underlying heart problem that eventually took him. I felt like a bad meowmy because I had forgotten to have his heart rechecked after the first one showed a problem and the vet recommended checking it again later. I know in my heart that I did the best I could for him, and I gave him a good life with me.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or send me a PM. When you get his test results (ask for a copy), would you post them?
 

catsknowme

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Cloud_Shade certainly posted lots of valuable information!!! I know that the state of grief can bring out preexisting health conditions...when my nephew got murdered, I was enroute to the nearest airport, to fly to Hawaii to be there, and suddenly I had to pee, and when I did, it was pure blood, and the pain that suddenly started then and there was pure H***; it was an out of control kidney infection that I had managed to mask, till my grief set in

Hang in there, Marty - your meowmmy needs you
 
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myboys15

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Thank you all so much for the support. The news was not as bad as I thought. His T-4 test was normal for his age. It is very difficult for the vet to pinpont what exactly is going on with Marty. He developed new behaviors and mannerism after his brother died. His teeth are the main issue right now. With his age and Kidney issues, it has been left at "If he is pain, then we need to do something." But, I HATE the idea of anesthesia. I worried so much when Sebastian needed it. (He broke his arm and it had to be set) Sebastian did fine, but he took such a turn for the worse that and he never recovered......I am not sure what my point is here. I just hate the idea of anesthesia. Thank you all so much for the information and support. Has anyone else's baby needed dental surgery when they were older and with kidney function issues? Martys Creatinine level was 2.9 and his phosphorus level was good. I wrote everything down so fast but I think his BUN level was 35. The vet said that we should offer plenty of fluids {Maryt prefers to drink out of my fine crystal glasses over the metal, plastic and glass bowls that I have given to him} Plent of moist food and the Science K/D. Thanks again
This weekend I have to think about what is best treatment for Marty, regardless of my fears.

catsknowme: OMG!! I am so sorry about your nephew. I hope that you and his family are OK now.
Cloud_Shade: WOW! You are the best
 

cloud_shade

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I would suggest asking your vet for a copy of the bloodwork. I kept a folder on Spot so I could track changes in his thyroid and other levels. I found it to be very helpful because I would notice trends and bring them to the vet's attention.

There are a lot of sites out there about chronic renal insufficiency in cats. Some goods ones include:
http://felinecrf.com/
http://www.felinecrf.org/

As for dental work, it is something you may want to look into. The anesthetics are getting better. Odo, who's about 14 years old, had a dental done last month with no issues. Spot, who was hyperthyroid and age unknown, had three rounds of anesthetics for different procedures, including a dental during one of them. He also had a heart condition that was undiagnosed. Older cats can do fine with anesthesia, but there are definitely some anesthetics that are better than others. I wrote a description of some of them for another person who was questioning the use of anesthetics in senior cats; you may find it useful.
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ght=anesthesia
 
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