[Felvtalk] Hyper thyroid in cats

Sat Apr 20 18:50:24 CDT 2019

As this group is FeLVtalk, I assumed that cats discussed here are FeLV-positive unless the writer says otherwise.  

Yes, I would indeed hesitate to put a FeLV cat through I-131 therapy. We’ve seen many of our rescues go temporarily hypothyroid (ie, underactive thyroid) for 2 or more months as the treatment, after it is administered, gradually kills the overactive thyroid nodules and the healthy thyroid tissue has to wake back up. This happening is known to veterinarians administering I-131 and is one reason they recommend waiting to test the thyroid until 60 days after treatment.

Sometimes, though, the cat’s thyroid becomes oversuppressed because too much tissue was destroyed, and the cat needs supplementation with thyroid hormone. In two of our cases, permanent supplementation became necessary. 

This is meaningful to FeLV (and FIV) cats because when the thyroid gland is working too slowly, the immune system can also slow down. This has been seen in humans and in dogs, so I suspect cats would be affected as well.  So, for my own FIV cat and for my cousin’s FeLV kitty who we baby-sit, I wouldn’t use I-131 therapy without thinking hard about it, especially if the cat is doing well on methimazole.    

Hope this helps,

- Lorraine

"Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine."  - Alan Turing 

From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Amani Oakley
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2019 5:54 PM
To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Hyper thyroid in cats

And in your post, you indicated “In spite of our mostly good experiences with I-131, I would think hard before putting a FeLV cat through it”. I hadn’t seen a reference to the FeLV status of Dlgegg’s cat, and that is what I was referencing. You seemed to be suggesting that you had had good experience with the radioactive iodine treatment but would reticent to contemplate the use of that treatment on a FeLV cat.

Amani

From: Felvtalk <felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org> On Behalf Of Lorraine Johnston
Sent: April 20, 2019 5:50 PM
To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Hyper thyroid in cats

Amani, I’m not sure who you’re addressing with this latest message, or what you mean by “don’t remember that being mentioned,” but I was responding to the original poster (dlgegg at windstream.net  <mailto:dlgegg at windstream.net-see> – see bottom) who said that her cat is on Felimazole and that one of her prior cats did badly after I-131 (radioactive iodine).

- Lorraine

Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Hyper thyroid in cats

Did I miss something in the original post about FeLV? I don’t remember that being mentioned.

Anyhow, I would reiterate my suggestion to look into CBD Oil if that is also a concern, given the lack of any side-effects reported with its use. CBD Oil could be used along with the Felimazole, as it would not likely have any interference with the other medication, if there was a concern regarding discontinuing one to start the other. However, if you get a good result, you would have difficulty knowing which was responsible. 

Amani

Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Hyper thyroid in cats

Hello,

We have taken numerous cats to Radiocat for iodine-131 treatment -- at least 10 -- in the past 15-20 years. In spite of our mostly good experiences with I-131, I would think hard before putting a FeLV cat through it. If the Felimazole is working, I would be inclined to continue with it. 

But if you do want to try I-131 therapy, I would first have a FeLV ‘viral load’ test run. Scanelis in France offers it. I can pass along the info your vet would need to draw the blood Scanelis would need to run the test. They are in the south of France, near Toulouse, and do speak English of course, so communicating is just fine. The cost was about (USD) $109 plus shipping, about $200 altogether.

It’s unfortunate that no US company runs a similar test, not even the older cd4:c8 ratio that I found useful. Sigh.

Best regards,

Lorraine

On April 18, 2019 at 3:12 PM "dlgegg at windstream.net" <dlgegg at windstream.net> wrote: 

Hello everyoone,

I have a 12 year old former feral who was diagnosed with hyper thyroid yesterday.  Herm level is 4.7 and she is one meds, 2.5mg of Felimazole morning and evening.  I had one cat about 10 years ago that we did radioactive iodine.  the isolation was very hard on her and she went downhill after she got home, bleeeding from nose, etc.  don't really want to repeat that.  Homey is especially bonded with me and has been my caregiver since my heart surgery.  she has alerted me to one time of gasping for air in the night and 3 instances of low sugar.  she sleeps plastered to my chest and when she is on my lap, holds on to me .  I am very attached to her and do not want to loose her so am hoping meds work.  

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