Poor Gabe!

[hellziggy]

The vet called yesterday with the results of Gabe's bloodwork, and he apparently has hyperthyroidism, which is very common in cats over 8 years old. Luckily this is also very treatable. I haven't had a chance to actually talk to the vet yet about our options, but from what I've just read about it there are 3 main avenues of treatment. The first is a oral treatment, twice daily. It is relatively cheap, but will require frequent blood level checks, and it is a treatment, not a cure. The second is surgery to remove the thyroid. It carries the usual surgical/anesthesia risks, and sometimes can lead to hypothyroid, but is generally overall a good option. Of course there are the costs associated with surgery. Option three is radioactive iodine. This will remove just the affected tissue, requires no anesthesia, and is just one injection, and is curative rather than just a treatment. The downside to this one is that your cat has to stay at the treatment center for generally at least 10 days, because he will be radioactive. And I'm sure it isn't cheap.
Poor guy. I'll have a better idea of what we're going to do once I've talked to the vet. I'm sure it will probably be just medicine at first while we weigh our options. But other than the thyroid thing she said his bloodwork looked pretty good.

Comments

[notmonochrome.livejournal.com]

Did you find out during a routine check up, or was Gabe getting really skinny? Marvin (my grandpa's cat) had always been think, but he was skeletal before he started getting better. The ASPCA would have thought we were starving him.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

He's having his teeth cleaned tomorrow and because he's 12 yrs old they had me bring him in to have blood drawn. He is sooooo NOT skinny! :P