Cat Diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism

[LizzyELane]

Medication at £35 a month I can just about cover. However I'm reeling that as well as the blood tests/consultation my cat had yesterday at £198, she'll need the same in three weeks time, then every three months for the rest of her life. Told the vet nurse I'm a student and single parent and she said that was their gold standard recommendation and I could agree a different plan for blood tests. Cat is 11, well at the moment and obviously I will do my absolute best for her, but £800 a year just for blood tests seems OTT to me! And before anyone comments, I was married and working when we got her and don't consider myself an irresponsible pet owner! Just kicking myself I didn't insure her. Does anyone else with a cat with this condition pay £200 for blood tests every three months?

My cat is also has hyperthyroidism. She is much older tho- was about 16 when she was diagnosed. She’s very stressed by going to the vets . So we have agreed that as long as her weight is stable , she seems well and she’s not tachycardic, then we just continue with the treatment and don’t do all the blood tests etc. 2 years later and she’s better and a bit fatter than she was at diagnosis. And she’s not been distressed by multiple blood tests.
I can tell if she’s a bit worse and increase her thyronorm until I feel she’s balanced again

Ah thank you Runner that's really useful to know. And yes the other thing as you say is the trips to vet are so traumatic for cats, mine is especially nervy. When I went to pick up the pills just now I got to speak to the vet again who said we could manage it with my monitoring her weight and 6 monthly bloods not 3 monthly. So as I thought, every 3 months is a bit over the top!

I've had 2 cats with hyperthyroidism, which they had for many years. They had one blood test only and no regular check ups, just their annual, unless something else cropped up during the year. They were under 2 vets in 2 different countries, who didn't think it was necessary to give them regular blood tests. I just had to monitor them. I just bought their medication from the vets and they both lived to the age of 20. The only vet who wanted regular blood tests done was the vet in England. The vets in Spain and Ireland didn't think it was necessary.

The cat stops being nervy once they are treated - it's amazing, my cat (which I thought had become really annoying to my eternal shame) calmed down and got it's original personality back. DH and I realised she'd been ill for years and we were too thick to notice

We only had the blood tests to start with, once things are stable cat just had the tablets and that's it.

I sent my cat for radioactive iodine treatment and she is completely cured now. They have to stay in the vet hospital for a week. Dont know if you have insurance. It cost 1300k. Id have taken out a loan as it will be cheaper than years and years of blood tests and pills.

@LizzyELane do you claim any benefits that would qualify you for help from the PDSA?

Thank you everyone, and sorry for the late reply. Really good to know your cats have done well just with medication and without excessive stressful and expensive blood tests.

Shehasadiamond - no I don't have insurance but that amount for radioactive treatment would cost the same as the monthly meds and a yearly blood test for two years so I will ask the vets about that. Crushing pills twice a day and stopping the dog from eating leftovers is a right pain!
Zombie - no I don't have benefits that would count for PDSA help, I'm on a student loan, so although on a budget it's not considered benefits.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I sent my cat for radioactive iodine treatment and she is completely cured now. They have to stay in the vet hospital for a week. Dont know if you have insurance. It cost 1300k. Id have taken out a loan as it will be cheaper than years and years of blood tests and pills.

We did this as well although it was about £2000 but saved us lots of money for many years afterwards.