A problem precisely answered Hyperthyroidism. From diagnosis to treatment, precise control, every step of the way. Dermcare -VET 7-11 Centenary Road Slacks Creek QLD 4127, Australia Phone: +61 7 3387 9700 www.dermcare.com.au General information The thyroid gland is a small pair of glands located either side of the windpipe in the lower neck. Hyperthyroidism is the over production of thyroid hormones caused by an over active thyroid. In most cases this is due to a benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid hormones are important to many bodily processes and over production can have serious effects on health and wellbeing. There are three main options for the treatment • Surgery • Radioactive iodine • Medical treatment to block the production of excessive thyroid hormones Your veterinarian will discuss with you the local availability of treatment options along with the recommendations for your cat. Felimazole is a veterinary licenced treatment for feline hyperthyroidism and comes in small sugar coated tablets available as both 2.5 and 5mg to enable the dose to be fine tuned. Signs Felimazole contains the active ingredient Thiamazole which reduces the production of thyroid hormones. This treatment has the benefit of being reversible. Treatment is usually required lifelong. • • • • • • Return to your veterinarian for regular monitoring tests. Your cat’s condition needs to be stabilised. Ongoing monitoring tests are designed to ensure this stability is maintained. It is important the control of your cats overactive thyroid is ‘just right’ as over or under control can have serious effects. Increased hunger and thirst Restlessness or agitation Weight loss Rapid heart rate Unkempt coat Vomiting and diarrhoea Not all cats display all outwardly obvious signs of hyperthyroidism. As the disease can come on slowly people close to the cat can mistake these signs for those of general aging. Regular check ups with your veterinarian can ensure together with your home observations and signs which may be attributed to hyperthyroidism can be checked out before they become a major health issue. Timing of blood tests • 3, 6, 10 & 20 weeks after starting treatment • Then every 3 months Contact your veterinarian immediately if you cat becomes unwell whilst on Felimazole® Wash hands with soap and water after handling Felimazole® or after handling litter used by treated animals. Steps to diagnosis • General physical examination (including palpation of the lower neck) • General health blood test (including kidney and liver enzymes) • Total T4 (blood test- to check thyroid level) • Urine test (information from blood kidney enzymes together with urine tests help to determine kidney function) All of these steps together help to give a full picture of your cats’ health, aiding in formulating a treatment plan for cats positive for hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid). DO NOT Change dose without advice from your veterinarian Eat, drink or smoke whilst handling tablets or used litter Crush tablets If you are a woman of child bearing age, wear gloves when handling litter of treated cats. Forgotten Tablet? • If it is close to the next dose by the time you remember do not administer an extra tablet, just continue when the next dose is due. • If you remember within a few hours of when the dose was due then administer it immediately, the following dose should be given at the normal time or slightly later. After this all doses should return to normal times. • If a dose is missed within a few days of when blood tests are due discuss this with your veterinarian before the blood tests are carried out as they may be affected.