THE PET CONNECTION By Gina Spadafori Pet Columnist

What got into that cat? It's a question more people are wondering these days, as their cats seem to get more energetic as they age, instead of less.

While it might seem wonderful to have an oldster with the energy of a kitten, that zooming cat is likely sick, with a disease that will kill it before its time if left unchecked: hyperthyroidism.

In older cats, says veterinarian Dr. Duncan Ferguson, the overproduction of thyroid hormone is among the most common of maladies: One in 300 cats overall is hyperthyroid, with an average age at diagnosis of 13.

When a cat produces too much thyroid hormone, its metabolic rate soars to the point where it can burn off more than half of its body weight. If thyroid production is not checked, cardiac and liver problems develop, and the cat dies.

But the treatment of hyperthyroidism is one of the bright spots of feline geriatric medicine, says Ferguson, a professor at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine and a nationally recognized expert on thyroid diseases in domestic animals.

"It's a very satisfying thing to treat," says Ferguson, who is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network, which runs AOL's Pet Care Forum. "We see an owner who's sure their cat's really down the tubes, and three or four months after treatment, the cat is fine."

Ferguson says that because of the seriousness of the diseases, it's now considered good practice to screen cats above the age of eight for elevated thyroid levels; many problems in older cats can be attributed to this underlying disease.

Veterinary medicine offers three methods for treating hyperthyroidism. The one any owner chooses will depend on location and the overall health and disposition of the pet. Here are the options:

Radioactive iodine therapy. This is the preferred method, according the Ferguson. "It's what would happen to you and me, and that's what happened to George and Barbara Bush," he said.

The benefits are significant: a cure rate of 90 to 95 percent, with no further treatment. The cat gets one dose of a radioactive substance that kills the overproducing cells without harming any other of the body's functions. It's a one-day matter, but what follows presents a dilemma for many owners: The treatment creates a radioactive cat that must be kept on site at the veterinary clinic or college for seven to 14 days, after which the animal is considered safe.

Other problems: This treatment is not available in all areas, adding travel time to the equation for those who wish to pursue it. Veterinary colleges are one source of treatment, as are specialty practices in many urban areas, such as the San Francisco Bay Area.

Surgery. Another option is a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of the offending parts of the thyroid gland, which can be done by a pet's regular veterinarian. The problem: The surgery is delicate, with a chance that other problems may erupt as a result, such as calcium deficiencies. More significant is the age and general health of the cat: Older pets are at greater risk while under anesthesia.

Still, says Ferguson, this may be a good option when radioactive iodine treatment is not available, or if the cat hasn't the temperament to endure short-term confinement.

Medication. Hyperthyroidism can be treated with the drug Tapazol, but some cats don't tolerate it well and some owners aren't up to the task of administering multiple daily doses for the duration of a pet's life. Because of these problems, drug therapy is often used to stabilize a cat prior to the other treatments, to address the immediate health problems caused by hyperthyroidism until a long-term solution can be put into place.

None of these options is inexpensive, says Ferguson, who notes that any treatment could run into hundreds of dollars, depending on the region. Radioactive iodine treatment costs around $600 at the University of Georgia, he says, but can hit $1,200 in New York and California urban areas.

No small consideration to be sure, but a price many are glad to pay to have their pet healthy for a few extra years.

Date Published: 1/20/1997

    

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of Dogs for Dummies, Cats for Dummies and Birds for Dummies. She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her at petconnection@gmail.com.