Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pharmacologic management of feline hyperthyroidism.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Trepanier, Lauren A
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
For cats with hyperthyroidism, which is a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive, the best treatment is usually radioiodine. However, if a cat has kidney problems, a medication called methimazole might be a better option. While methimazole can help, it can also cause side effects like upset stomach, skin irritation on the face, low blood platelet counts, low white blood cell counts, or liver issues. It's important for cats on methimazole to have their blood tested regularly to check kidney function and thyroid hormone levels. A newer form of methimazole that is applied to the skin may cause fewer stomach issues and can be used for cats that vomit or eat less when taking the oral version. If high blood pressure is present, it may not go away right away even after treatment, so it should be managed with additional medications. Overall, methimazole can be effective, but careful monitoring is essential.
Abstract
Radioiodine is considered the treatment of choice for hyperthyroidism, but in some situations, methimazole therapy is preferred, such as in cats with preexisting renal insufficiency. Unfavorable outcomes from methimazole are usually attributable to side effects, such as gastrointestinal upset, facial excoriation, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, or liver enzyme elevations. Because restoration of euthyroidism can lead to a drop in glomerular filtration rate, all cats treated with methimazole should be monitored with blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in addition to serum thyroxine (T(4)) and a complete blood cell count. Transdermal methimazole is associated with fewer gastrointestinal side effects and can be used in cats with simple vomiting or inappetence from oral methimazole. Hypertension may not resolve immediately when serum T(4) is normalized, and moderate to severe hypertension should be treated concurrently with atenolol, amlodipine, or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17619011/