Anyone have a knowledge of cats and thyroid problems?? I need help

Hi! My cat is 15 and has always been very healthy. A few months she started losing hair, so the vet gave her a shot, said she might need a second one..so she started losing hair again in the EXACT same place, so I took her back in, her Doc noticed a swollen thryoid and took blood. Tonight they called me as I was about to go into class and told me that she needs treatment, that I have three options...
The first is a procedure that supposedly works great, but its 2,000 bucks, the escond is surgery, which usually works..they would go in na dtake out the gland and then there is a risk that her other gland could come back in a few years, this procedure is 1,000 bucks and my last option is to medicate her twice daily for the rest of her life. Im leaning towards the surgery because I dont like the idea of medicating her every day..just seems crazy..but has anyone else been through this? My Doc said this extremely common in older cats...but Ive never even heard of it. Sorry this is so long...I just need some knowledge because this is so new to me. Thanks in advance!

My cat had this and she did the medicine twice a day. We just hid it in her treats or her food... she figured it out after a while though and started being picky about eating. The medicine isn't too bad though once you get into the routine.

Good luck with whatever you chose :) I hope your kitty is alright!

THANKYOU for responding!!! Ive just been reading online about my options. My vet told me the most expensive procedure was 2,000 bucks..but Ive been reading online that it may be cheaper. i found a number for a place in NY..Ill call them tomorrow and see what their price is, its for a radio active treatment and its supposedly much better than surgery even.
Im so glad to hear that you cat did well on the medication? did your cat suffer from any side effects?? Thanks again for responding!!!

i have no suggestions or advice because i've never been through that.....but when my kitty was sick a few months ago, i was a mess!!!
hope your kitty feels better soon!!!!

umm, i don't think she did. i was away at college for most of the time that she was on the medication. We looked into the radiation as well, but apparently she had to go away for a week if she had that and my step-father could not part with his baby girl for more than a week

Yeah, they do have to go away for a few days, my vet said four, but I read it could be up to ten days..the upside is its 98-99% effective..whereas teh surgery there is a big chance the other side swel and then that would require another surgery and there is a chance of hypothyroidism. Its so scary..so Im seriosuly considreing this iodine radioactive treatment..I know Im not going to be able to sleep tonight.
Thank you Palebride for the nice wishes!! And thank you Debny for your info and well wishes!!!!

My husband's family has three cats, and the oldest one has had a thyroid problem for the last couple of years. They give her medicine twice a day, and he says it has worked beautifully. Sometimes it can be a pain getting her to take it, or she spits it out, but other than that, it has been successful.

Good luck with whatever option you choose!

wow!! That is really great to know ..so far thats two who have had experiences with the medication!!! Im very excited to hear that!!!
I guess my concern is by the time I add up monthly medication..it maybe be quicker and easier to just do the surgery...but then she would have to go through anesthesia, etc. UGH>>Im stressed..I cant sleep. I really appreciate all of your help....more than you could know. I have had this baby girl for 15 years, since she was a kitten..I dont remember what it was like without her..Im so stressed outI feel like I could vomit. So I truly appreciate your advice..it means alot to me!

I just am offering hugs!!1 I am a cat owner and lover of animals. We have a diabetic cat who gets shots twice a day.

what about fm'ing Kathy116? Her husband is a vet I believe. Maybe she can give you some advice.

My cat had the same thing, I did the pills and she was ok, she later passed away from other problems but Thyroid wasn't a factor, she was getting very old and weak. However the pills worked for her problem. Please keep us informed on her.

Hi alicia...long time no see

my sister's cat has a thyroid condition, she developed it at age 10. My sister chose to medicate her b/c she was rather thin at the time and she was afraid to anesthetize (sp?) her for the surgery. she has been on the meds for about 3 months and she went from 6 lbs to 14 lbs (her original body weight) and her hair has grown in very thick and smooth. It's actually the best she's looked in a very long time.

She still has the option of surgery, now that her levels are all ok (blood, kidney function, etc...) but she has decided to continue the meds. he wraps the pills (they are quite small) into a soft treat, so the cat does not even know she is being medicated....plus she likes getting the treats!

I hope all goes well!

ETA: I forgot to mention, the only *side effect* is that her claws grow in much more quickly and a bit thicker from the meds.

Same experience as others w/meds. Cat lost lots of weight (he was always a robust 20 lbs, went down to 9 in a very short time), and lost all of his beautiful coat (he's a maine coon mix). Went on the pills and his weight picked up and his hair is back - more beautiful than ever! Unfortunately he's a P.I.T.A in terms of taking the pills (the little games/tricks don't work) but it's for the best. Could not afford the surgical procedures.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for yoru experiences and wishes!!! I appreciate them all!! I did some research and from what Im finding, the iodine radioactive injection might work best for my cat. It will runa small fortune, but once they inject it, the problem is gone and is 99% effective. I dont know how my cat will do with medications..and I figure by the time I add it all up, the procedure will be equivalent to monthly or yearly meds, only hopefully less aggravation. I may try the meds for a month, to see how she does with them...surgery is no longer an option..its either the meds or the injection. i found a great place that specializes it in White Plains..its called Radio Cat, I spoke toa friend of a friend who specializes in cats, has her own practice just for cats and she said the place in White Plains has a great reputation. So im looking into that. Thanks again so much for all of your experiences and advice!!! I needed to hear it!!!

My cat (who passed in April from old age) had a thyroid problem and we was on pills. It worked great. He gained weight, his fur got healthy again, he stopped crying for food.

He had gotten so healthy that we didn't even realize that he was slowing down.

If your cat could take pills, go for it. It was quite a challenge to get my cat to take them, but the reward was great!

Good luck

Hi and thanks!! Xjulie..Im sorry that your cat passed away. MOBlaurel..tahnk you for that information. Right now Im waiting for my vet to call me back..I live in NJ..but did find a place that only does this radioactive treatment and they are in White plains..I just spoke with them for about an hour today...but I may still call the place you mentioned...Thanks so much for all your feedback everyone!!!

My cat has this disease and I was really upset that I had to medicate her daily... my vet offered a great solution...ask your vet about it.

My vet gave me a prescription for a medication that comes in a cream. I have to get it from Florida because we can't get it up here. (It's $29 for 3 months worth and they ship it to you in about 3 days). The medication comes in a needless syringe. You put the prescriped amount on your finger and smear it on the inside of your cats ear...just the flap not the 'inside.' Takes 2 seconds and I do it right when she goes to eat. All she does is shake her head and goes back to eating. It is BY FAR the best and easiest way to medicate a cat because the medicince just soaks in.

FM me if you need anymore details...

I just wanted to send you some Ä

My 4 year old cat has been losing her hair for over a year! The first vet I went to, told me it was an alergy to something, so..... I had to change her food, no fish!, I had to make sure she was drinking and eating out of stainless steel bowls, I had to change the litter to no perfumes, no dies. I had to make sure there was no wool in the house. They would always treat this with steroid shots. Which worked at first, but now she has not reaction to it.

She lost all her hair on the underside of her body, and around the base of her tail and around her but.

We've moved recently, so I took her to a new vet that was recommened to me by a friend, well, they also think it is an allergic reaction to food. So we had to put her on a special diet of just dry food, and have a cone around her neck for a week. Well..... the hair started growing back, but my cat was starving herself, because she rarely eats dry food, and would cry for the wet food!...... I changed the brand of the wet food and started feeding her again. So far so good. But now, she has a really bad cut on her back, that they think she did to herself, so... she has to cone back on her head and I have to put cream on 2-3x a day.

I just want my cat to get better already! She is sooooooo depressed with this stupid cone on her head.

I am hoping it is just an allergic reaction to her old food, and not a tyroid problem. She is only 4 years old! And costing us a fortune!

I have to pay $20 for a 4lb bag of dry food from the vet! YIKES!

So.... I know what you are going through, and I hope that your kitty gets better!e