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Tampa, FL – Risky surgery is no longer necessary. Daily pilling has been eliminated. Tampa Bay cat owners can rejoice that a safer and more effective way to cure Hyperthyroidism is available. For Kim Mahoney, a registered nurse from Safety Harbor, the treatment, called Radioiodine was the purrr-fect answer to her cats’ problems. “It’s absolutely, positively, the best way to treat them. They go back to the way they were before the thyroid problem.”
“Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common diseases in older cats,” according to Dr. Erick Mears at Florida Veterinary Specialists, in Tampa. Radioiodine treatment (a single injection) can completely cure hyperthyroidism by destroying only the thyroid tumor. The treatment has been available for humans for about 50 years. As for cat owners, “People don’t know about Radioiodine, because it’s not readily available,” according to Dr. Mears. In fact, Florida Veterinary Specialists is the only specialty hospital in Tampa Bay that uses it.
Former methods of treating hyperthyroidism are risky or inconvenient. They include surgery or daily pilling. Surgery risks removing healthy glands, but not necessarily removing the entire problematic tumor. Multiple surgeries are often required. This was not an option for Kim Mahoney, who owns 7 cats. “For me, it was an issue of getting it done once. Plus, I don’t want my cats on anesthesia after a certain age, especially if they have other issues.” Another old-school method includes pilling. That option merely manages the disease and causes major side effects like vomiting, hair loss, liver and kidney damage, facial scabbing and more. It can also be a daily challenge for a pet owner. Kim adds, “There is too much inconvenience to pill a cat. It’s a commitment and you can’t stray, even if you go on vacation.” Dr. Mears, who’s treated more than 2,000 cats with Radioiodine says one of the many advantages to the procedure is it really improves the relationship between the cat and their owner. There’s no need to chase a running cat to give him a pill for the rest of his life.
Media opportunity: Dr. Mears treats his next group of feline friends on October 4th. You are invited to see the process, including ultrasounds of the chest and abdomen. You are also welcome to meet Kim Mahoney and her 7 cats (2 have been treated with Radioiodine)
Hyperthyroidism occurs when a cat’s thyroid gland develops a tumor that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormone. This condition over-stimulates many organ systems and can cause changes in behavior, eating habits, fever, rapid heartbeat, shedding, diarrhea and even death.
Florida Veterinary Specialists state-of-the-art facility is designed and equipped to provide emergency, specialty and critical care for pets. Specialty services include: dermatology, neurology, internal medicine, oncology, ophthalmology, radiology, surgery acupuncture and more. It’s located at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. in Tampa. The emergency service is accessible 24 hours a day when a regular veterinarian is not available. FVS provides after-hours, weekend and holiday emergency services for many veterinary practices. Check out www.fvs.com for more.
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