Pet Friendly Moving

Pet Friendly Feline Thyroid Therapy, part 2

In the previous post I wrote about cat-friendly containment in conjunction with my cat's thyroid treatment, but cat condos can be useful for any number of reasons.  In this post, I offer some specifics about Radioiodine Therapy from the cat's owner's perspective.  Everything starts with a diagnosis by your usual veterinarian.  Once a thyroid condition has been identified, the next decision is which course of treatment to pursue.  In some cases, a daily pill may work just fine.  The alternative, Radioiodine Therapy, offers several significant advantages.

• It's non-intrusive.  The medication is administered by a single needle dosage.
• It's effectiveness generally lasts for the rest of the cat's life.  No further thyroid-related treatments will be required. 
• It works fairly quickly to restore the thyroid's normal functions and the cat's thyroid-related health.
• There is significant medical research to support the efficacy of the procedure.

Some considerations:

• Appropriate Radioiodine Therapy facilities and experienced veterinarian specialists are not necessarily available where you live.  Your usual vet can help you identify the possibilities.
• There may be a waiting period before your cat can begin the treatment. 
• Your cat will have to be boarded for a few days or more at the facility where the treatment is administered.  Even if you live nearby, you will not be allowed to visit your cat.
• Your cat will still be radioactive when he or she is released from the treatment facility which means your cat will have to be isolated for a specified amount of time.  Other animals and people should not be exposed to your cat until the specified time period is over.  The primary care giver can have only limited exposure.

I am fortunate that I've lived relatively near a facility that specializes in Radioiodine Therapy when each of my cats required thyroid treatment.  The treatment has improved during the 10 years between when my first cat and my current cat were treated by Dr. Michael R. Broome at Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging, located in Tustin, CA.  The first time, the isolation and boarding periods required were much longer.  Now AVMI offers clients the opportunity to check in on their cats in their respective "apartments" at anytime during the day with on-line video cam transmission.  I loved that benefit, though I admit that even the most ardent cat lover can watch a sleeping cat for only so long.  By the way, if you live in the greater L.A. area, it may be more convenient to meet with Dr. Broome in W.L.A. where you can then drop off and pick up your cat after treatment.  As mentioned above, your veterinarian can refer you to other clinics in your area.

The very best part of the treatment is seeing how effective and content both of my cats were when they returned from the treatment.  My first cat, Cocoa, was about 7 years old when he was treated, which is fairly young.  He lived a happy life for another 6 years.  Grayzie, on the other hand, turned 16 about 3 months after her treatment.  She is a very content cat, now a little deaf, who sleeps a lot.  Thanks to her Radioiodine Therapy, she will enjoy a peaceful old age. 

Whatever treatment you decide upon, please be sure you see your usual vet as soon as possible if you note any erratic behavior, changes in eating or drinking habits, or the condition of your cat's coat.  The sooner your cat receives whatever treatment is determined, the happier you and your cat will be.

If you would like more general information or have information to add about Radioiodine Therapy, I'd love to hear from you.  If you would like clinical information, Dr. Broome's website is www.avmi.net.

 

 

Pet-friendly Feline Thyroid Therapy, part 1

Cat lovers know that thyroid issues are fairly common among our feline friends.  They are also quite serious and threatening to a cat's well-being.  Cocoa, my first cat, had thyroid issues about 10 years ago when he was relatively young, which is when I became familiar with the symptoms and available treatment options...generally a pill everyday for the rest of the cat's life or radioiodine therapy which usually offers a permanent cure.   So a few months ago when my cat Grayzie started manifesting the symptoms...manic one minute and lethargic the next, ravenously hungry and thirsty alternating with total disinterest in food or drink, ratty looking coat, etc....I knew what the vet's diagnosis would be.

I might have considered the pill option except that Grayzie has always been Miss Indepedent and does not tolerate being touched unless she is in the mood.  Despite all the tried and true ploys, it has always been extremely difficult to administer pills to Grayzie, always leading to her extreme agitation.  It also makes it difficult to be sure she has actually swallowed the pill.  So, it was not a difficult decision for me to opt for the radioiodine therapy which had been so effective for Cocoa.

Having made the decision and the arrangements for Grayzie's treatment, the next dilemma was how to secure her, an indoor/outdoor cat, for the possible 6-8 weeks of her combined pre and post procedure intervals.  This was especially challenging in a house with two indoor/outdoor dogs and a layout that doesn't allow Grayzie or the dogs to be isolated in any one room.  The most workable solution was a cat condo.

If you're not familiar with cat condos, they are similar to aviaries, but include adjustable shelves for cats to climb and snooze on.  The floor can hold a litter box as well as food and water bowls.  There are several lockable doors allowing easy access to your cat without risk of her escaping.  They rest on wheels so the condo can be easily moved around to the most advantage spot as the light and temperature change.  They require almost no assembly.  The whole thing rises up and collapses like a slinky.  And, you can hose the bottom off fairly easily while the cat perches on one of the higher shelves.  They're made of durable steel so you may be able to find a used one in good condition.  Or, shop around at pet stores and on the internet.  Prices vary.

I'm not suggesting that condo living is an idea long-term arrangement, but the condos are spacious and open enough for most cats to cope with being locked up in them when necessary.   Grayzie was relatively serene and enjoyed the passing scene from her protected perch on the porch or by the window.  In my next post, I'll write about the actual procedure, why containment is required and what to expect when your cat comes home, etc. 

In the meantime, I welcome any suggestions you may have about how to keep a cat reasonably content during forced containment, whether for a thyroid procedure or anything else.