We have a saying in the veterinary business that when a pet just isn’t feeling well, and the owner can’t put their finger on what’s wrong, we say the patient is ADR – ain’t doin’ right. That could mean all sorts of things, but this article is specifically about older cats. Sometimes senior kitties may start to act strange, like meowing all night or not using the litter box well, or they may be eating fine but still losing weight. These symptoms may indicate that Fluffy has feline hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where a typically benign tumor in the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This increases your feline’s metabolism, causing her to be hungry all the time, yet still loses weight. We also often see cat’s with behavioral changes as mentioned above. If left untreated, Tiger will progressively lose weight, develop heart disease, and ultimately die from the disease.

There are tests for this most common endocrine disease in cats, and easy treatments as well. A drug called Tapazole can be effectively used to control the condition, but there are some potential side effects. Surgery is option, but with no guarantees. The most effective treatment is radioactive iodine. Done at a special facility (we have one in Springfield), Simba stays at the center for about 4 days until his radiation levels are low enough, getting lots of TLC the whole time. This therapy is 99% effective, and needs very little follow-up. The downside is the cost – about $1250.

I hope this sheds some light on a common ailment in older cats. In the meantime, have a great summer, and I hope your critter isn’t ADR!

Till next time, Dr. Steve

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