Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best practice for the pharmacological management of hyperthyroid cats with antithyroid drugs.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Daminet, S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Biology of Small Animals
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
If your cat has hyperthyroidism, there are effective medications available to help manage the condition. Two main drugs, methimazole and carbimazole, can be used, with specific starting doses recommended based on your cat's needs. It's important to monitor your cat closely for any side effects, especially in the first few months, as some may require stopping the medication. Regular check-ups will help ensure your cat's thyroid levels are stable and that their overall health is good. While some cats may have shorter lifespans if they already have kidney issues, mild kidney problems that develop during treatment usually don't affect how long they live. Overall, the treatment can be effective, but more research is needed on the long-term effects.
Abstract
Pharmacological management of feline hyperthyroidism offers a practical treatment option for many hyperthyroid cats. Two drugs have been licensed for cats in the last decade: methimazole and its pro-drug carbimazole. On the basis of current evidence and available tablet sizes, starting doses of 2·5 mg methimazole twice a day and 10 to 15 mg once a day for the sustained release formulation of carbimazole are recommended. These doses should then be titrated to effect in order to obtain circulating total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations in the lower half of the reference interval. Treated cases should be monitored for side-effects, especially during the first months of treatment. Some side-effects may require discontinuation of treatment. At each monitoring visit, clinical condition and quality of life should also be evaluated, with special attention to possible development of azotaemia, hypertension and iatrogenic hypothyroidism. When euthyroidism has been achieved, monitoring visits are recommended after 1 month, 3 months and biannually thereafter. Cats with pre-existing azotaemia have shorter survival times. However, development of mild azotaemia during the initial course of treatment, unless associated with hypothyroidism, does not appear to decrease survival time. The long-term effects of chronic medical management require further study.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24372075/