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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: My cat has recently
lost weight, and my vet did a blood workup on her. She's going back to
be re-checked, but it seems she has hyperthyroidism. Is there any herbal
or holistic thing we can do? -- L.O., Cyberspace
A: Clinical signs
of hyperthyroidism include weight loss despite an increased appetite.
Your vet may also note an increased heart rate and palpable nodules in
the neck.
Dr. Michelle
Gaspar, a feline practitioner from Flossmoor, Ill., says left untreated,
hyperthyroidism, which most often occurs in older cats, can cause heart
disease and ultimately kill your kitty.
A drug called
Tapazole (methimazole) can be effectively used to control the disease
but offers no cure and may cause side-effects. Cats on this drug must
be carefully monitored.
Surgery is certainly
a viable option. Another choice, according to Gaspar, is radioactive iodine,
which actually provides a permanent cure in most individuals. The radioactive
iodine knocks out the excess production of the thyroid gland. However,
it's expensive, $600 to $1,300, and requires the cat be kept a minimum
of 21 days at a facility that offers this treatment. Vet offices don't
offer radioactive iodine, so you'd have to visit a veterinary school that
does.
As for herbal
or holistic answers, Gaspar knows of none. But she knows about radioactive
iodine and hyperthyroidism first hand. Two of her own cats were diagnosed
and treated successfully despite their advanced ages.
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