My cat is in hospital

[Gettingbysomehow]

My cat is in the veterinary hospital 3 hours drive away for 3 weeks.
She is having radioactive iodine treatment for her thyroid which will cure her problem.
But I miss her so desperately. She is a velcro cat and always on my knee,
The kitten is even worse she is going round the house wailing and looking for the older cats, she is looking for her in all the cupboards. She will not be consoles.
It's awful 😪

If your cat is 17 I would go for the daily medicine rather than anything else.
But that's just my opinion.

Hi @crimsonlake I went for the operation in the end. I just found the thought of the iodine treatment and afterwards too stressful - for both of us! She's a very attached cat and wouldn't have coped with the isolation.
She had the op on 9th Jan and I'm so pleased with how she's getting on. Recovered from the op within a day, and at her check up two weeks later she'd already put on half a kg and her heart rate was back to normal.
But having said that, she's a lot younger than yours, so that's something to take into consideration.
It was so difficult deciding what to do and I sympathise with you. Bit you know your cat best, so just go with what feels right. Good luck and let us know how you both get on!

BiggerBrighterBetter - Thank you, I can understand why you opted for the operation. Do you have insurance as unfortunately I don't?
I cannot do nothing, but deciding for the best and most cost cutting is difficult. It would be easier to come to a decision if my cat had many good years left.

Are we twins ? My 13 year Velcro cat was In Last week for bloods and I fetched the meds last night. The vet has suggested the iodine treatment - my nearest clinic is Wetherby so about an hour away. I'm a little concerned about the no going out for 2 weeks, last time we had to keep her in she refused to use the litter tray - we had to take her back to the vets at day 5 as she hadn't pee'd. Once they'd made her pee she was much happier using the litter Tray 🤣🤣

Did they give you a quote for the Iodine treatment I wonder?

Approx £3k. We have insurance that covers £1k of it.

Thank you and so expensive.

My 12 year old cat had hyperthyroidism. After a few weeks of tablets I opted for the operation. I didn't consider the iodine treatment, she was not the type of cat who would have coped with it.

The operation was day case, she was back home in the evening and recovered well, she lived another 4 years. I didn't have to keep her separate from my other cats and she was back to normal very quickly. I think the surgery only cost about £300, but it would of course be more expensive now.

@crimsonlake For a 17 year old I'd probably continue with medication assuming it was not too much of a nightmare medicating her. Have you asked the vet how much surgery would cost?

Bestinshow22 - Thank you.
Surgery was not brought up but I was given a quote for £2,500 for iodine treatment. However the cost of ongoing medication and regular blood tests are quickly going to mount up as well. As I mentioned my cat is elderly, but not frail so I expect he may possibly have another couple of good years left at the most.

@crimsonlake Luckily I do have insurance yes, which I was thankful for as the treatment was just under £1100 in total. But given the price of medication and regular blood tests, maybe not so bad? The iodine treatment quote was just over £3k, which my insurance would just about have covered, but I still thought the op.was best for us.

BiggerBrighterBetter - Thank you
Following more research I convinced myself that possibly a thyroidectomy may be the way forward. However last night on here historically I have come across some posts where people have said their cats died post op or soon after the operation and they obviously regret their choice especially on geriatric cats.
I do not think he would handle the iodine treatment ,the time away from home and then having to be isolated upon return.
Dispensing the tablets is not going well after a couple of days as he now realises what is going on. Yesterday evening he would not eat the piece of cheese with the tablet hidden inside. I then wrapped it in a bit of parma ham, followed by a topping of tuna. After a stand off and having viewed a you tube video on how to get a cat to swallow a tablet I attempted this. It was distressing for both of us so cannot put him through this twice a day.
If the liquid medication is not odourless this is not going to work either, I was not offered some drops that could be put on the ear?
I almost wish I had not gone to the vets in the first place and allowed my 17 year old cat to enjoy whatever time he has left.

The liquid medicine works quite well for us. I don't have much problem putting them in him. We put them straight in his mouth

We've got the liquid - luckily it's a tiny dose as she's such a small cat so by the time I've got it in it's gone 🤣. She's not happy but can't put her forward for the radioactive iodine till he diahorrea is under control - back at the vets in three weeks for repeat bloods, weight etc and talk about getting referred then

Thanks both.
My cat has never had diarrhea as a symptom, nor does he throw up after eating, but is prone to ejecting the odd furball. I managed to disguise a tablet in a piece of parma ham this morning which he swallowed.

@crimsonlake really sorry things are tricky with the medication, though it seems to be improving a bit this morning? Hopefully he's come to accept it.
My vet told me about the liquid to be rubbed on their ears, but said they would try oral liquid first if I went down that route. Maybe it's worth having a word with the vet about alternatives to the tablets as there seems to be options out there. Good luck!

@crimsonlake For the meds try the liquid version in Lickylix.

I was at my wits' end a month ago with my 14 year old as I knew I'd never be able to get him to take a tablet. Somebody here suggested Lickylix (it's like a sort of yoghurt for cats that comes in a sachet) and within days he was an addict. He now scoffs it down morning and evening, no problem at all! It has changed our lives 😁

BTW, mine had new blood test yesterday and he's come down from about 180 a month ago to 13 (!) today, on Thyronorm in Lickylix 😁 They've instructed me to reduce the dose 👍

Hi @crimsonlake

I had exactly the same issues with medication, okay for the first week then it got progressively harder and every time I approached my cat she thought it was tablet time, after four weeks we'd both had enough of that.

If I was you I would discuss surgery further with your vet and ask about the risks for your cat (my usual question to the vet is "what would you do if it was your cat?") It can be helpful to read people's experiences on the internet but your vet knows your cat's medical history and should be able to give the best guidance.

Hi @Gettingbysomehow , are your two together again now? And how about paying the cat tax.... ideally of both of them? (Just want pic of cute kitties!)😸

Thank you all, yes I will discuss changing medication with vet hopefully with Thyronorm. Currently not doing too badly as he is accepting the tablet in a little bit of parma ham the past couple of days which is making life easier.