Oreo Dean
This is Oreo Dean, our 16 1/2 yr old male neutered cat. Oreo was surrendered to Post Pet Hospital in April of 2005. He came to us with hyperthyroidism, a disease of older cats that is a benign tumor of the thyroid gland causing the thyroid to secrete excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones stimulates the body's metabolism. The disease causes accelerated heart rate, ravenous appetite but weight loss and ultimately they can develop heart disease and kidney failure.
The thyroid tumor can be eradicated with radioactive iodine. The tumor can also be removed with delicate surgery. The surgeon must be careful to preserve the parathyroid gland as it is essential to maintain calcium levels in the body.
Management of the disease requires a daily to twice daily medication called Methimazole or Tapazole. The medication has side effects such as vomiting and anorexia with the most common side effect being depression. Management requires a minimum of an annual exam and bloodwork to monitor the level of the replacement thyroid hormones in the bloodstream.
In Oreo's case, management with medication had been started by the previous owner and we continued that course with success for the first few years. Oreo did suffer from the side effects of the medication but we managed to keep his thyroid hormone level in the normal range until January when it sky rocketed to 10.1 with the normal range being 0.8 - 4.0.
After a staff consensus was reached Oreo was scheduled for a thyroidectomy performed by Dr. Grosser. Surgery was a success and Oreo has gained not only 8 oz since the surgery but a new lease on life as well. He has become much more affectionate and outgoing. To know Oreo is to love him, he has obviously won the hearts of our staff and many of our clients!
Sadly, Oreo was euthanized in June, 2009. We are comforted with knowing he had a happy 4yrs with us at Post Pet Hospital and the best veterinary care possible.
Oreo's incision after suture removal
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