18 Year Old Cat Hyperthyroid Radiation Treatment?

15 years ago

My beautiful cat, Murgy, is 18 years old and has hyperthyroidism. She's been on medication since discovery of the condition (August) and has gained weight well. Her liver and kidneys are also healthy. The blood work that she has every month is costing about $500. I can't afford this every month. I've heard that radiation treatment will actually cure the cat and is about $1000. Would you advise such treatment? We live in Westchester County NY. Does anyone know where a radiation facility is near here?

Thank you for your advice.

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Comments (5)

sammycat
15 years ago
I would strongly recommend at least consulting on the radiation treatment. A few years ago my then 17-year-old Sally had it, and I could see an improvement almost immediately! She lived another year-and-a-half before succumbing to a totally unrelated problem.
Here is a list I found on the internet of New York clinics that do the radiation treatment:

Cornell Univeristy
College Of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca NY 14853
(607) 253-3241
Dr. Nathan L. Dykes
nld2@cornell.edu
Feline Hyperthyroid Treatment Center
2 Hillside Avenue, Suite E
Williston Park, NY 11596
(516) 746-2287

Hypurrcat Westchester
The Animal Wellness Center of Bedford Hills
29 Haines Road
Bedford Hills, New York 10507
(914) 864-1631

NYC Veterinary Specialists and Cancer Treatment Center
410 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-767-0099

www.nyc-vs.com
Sachem Animal Hospital
227 Union Ave.
Holbrook, NY 11741

The Animal Medical Center
Cornell University Medical College
510 East 62nd, Street
New York NY 10021
(212) 838-8100 ex213
(212) 486-1699
Dr. Mark E. Peterson
mark.peterson@arncny.org
mark131i@aol.com
Tuckahoe Animal Hospital and Pet Center
20 Depot Square
Tuckahoe, NY 10707

Veterinary Specialists of Rochester
825 White Spruce Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14623
User
15 years ago
We had this done for one of our cats, and I can highly recommend it. It IS expensive, but so worth it. He had the procedure a couple years ago and all the muscle wasting, weight loss, etc. completely reversed itself in a short time. Our kitty was considerably younger than Murgy, but if he is otherwise healthy he might still have many years left. One thing I've been told is that Hyperthyroid can improve kidney function in cats with kidney problems, so sometimes a kidney problem becomes evident after the procedure. You might want to discuss that with the vet prior to the procedure.
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I am so sorry to hear this Abbey. You made the right decision and Annebelle was lucky to have lived such a long life with such a caring person as you. I hope all goes well with your own recovery from replacement surgery and that the bills will not be too overwhelming. I was following your post with keen interest (although it has taken until now for me to find the time to reply) because it is so parallel to my current situation with my own old cat. When I read your first post, it was as if I had written it myself. My old (21 and a half year old) cat just recently developed an abscess and accompanying swelling on her face. The vet tried convenia and it helped a little for the first week, but the swelling returned. At the followup visit the doctor used novacaine and specialized pliers to very quickly remove the two molars that were causing the problem, and dispensed a week's worth of antibiotic. I had high hopes that now the abscess would drain and all would be well, but no such luck. At the next visit the doctor opened the hardened mass, and when I went back a week later he showed me that the opening in the lump was still open, and told me to try hot packs. He said if she stops eating to bring her back and he would attempt surgery. I'm not sure I would go with this option because of my cat's advanced age, but I'm hopeful that this will not be necessary because the abscess is draining from the twice daily hot-pack treatment. So I'm hoping for a good outcome. Again I'm very sorry that Annebelle's story had such a sad outcome.
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samuraineko
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, Sammy cat, for the list of doctors, and Petra, for your support.
Mary-Ellen
Meghane
15 years ago
Since your kitty's kidneys have been normal with the Tapazole, I'd definitely go for the I 131 treatment. I've treated 20+ year old cats- age has nothing to do with it, it's the health of the patient that matters.
katsmah
15 years ago
I had this treatment done for my 14 yr old cat last year and my only regret is not doing it sooner. Total cost including xrays and pre and post bloodwork came to a little under 2K in Northern NJ. I consider it to be among the best money I have ever spent.

18 Year Old Cat Hyperthyroid Radiation Treatment?

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