Hyperthyroidism in Cats Considering the Impact of Treatment Modality on Quality of Life for Cats and Their Owners

In cats, hyperthyroidism can be treated in 4 ways: medical management with methimazole or carbimazole, nutritional management (low-iodine diet), surgical thyroidectomy, and radioactive iodine (I-131). Each form of treatment has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when formulating a treatment plan for the individual hyperthyroid cat. Medical and nutritional managements are considered "reversible" or palliative treatments, whereas surgical thyroidectomy and I-131 are "permanent" or curative treatments. The author discusses how each treatment modality could be the optimal choice for a specific cat-owner combination and reviews the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option.