CASE STUDY 3: HYPERTHYROID CAT
GROUP MEMBERS
Angela Culp LVT
Erick Hiott
Maegan Gossett
12 YEAR OLD , DOMESTIC SHORT HAIR, SPAYED FEMALE
Physical Exam
Laboratory Test Ordered
Temperature: 101.2 Fahrenheit
Complete Blood Count
Pulse: 175 beats per minute
Chemistry Profile
Respiration: 25 breath per minute
Capillary refill time: 2 sec
Fecal exam (slight diarrhea)
Weight: 2.4 kg
Total T4
Body Condition Score: 2/5
T3 Suppression Test
Pulmonary Auscultation: Within normal limits
Rabies, FVRCP and FELV current in 2009
Appearance upon exam: hair coat was greasy and
unkempt . Palpation of intestines show ropy intestines,
with a very palpable bladder and kidneys.
WHAT ARE T4 AND T3?
 T4 is an active Thyroid hormone.
 Thyroxine.
 Affects metabolic, growth, reproductive
and immune functions.
 Also regulates lipid and carbohydrate
metabolism.
 Helps control body temperature.
 Stored in the Thyroid gland.
 Converted to T3 once released into the
blood stream.
 T3 is an active Thyroid hormone.
 Tri-iodothyronine.
 Affects metabolic, growth, reproductive
and immune functions.
 Also regulates lipid and carbohydrate
metabolism.
 Helps control body temperature.
 Stored in the Thyroid gland.
HANDLING I-131: WHY DON’T VET CLINICS LIKE
TO HANDLE THIS?
Veterinary Concerns are as follows:
Safety
Training
Cost of the drug
Radiation exposure to the employees
and family.
Elimination of the drug is in the urine
and feces. Exposure of the drug is high
risk for 2 weeks.
I -131, known as radioactive iodine, is
used for treatment of hyperthyroidism
with a cure rate of 95%. All cats must
have a CBC, chemistry profile, urinalysis
and chest and abdominal radiographs
performed within 30 days of the
scheduled I-131 treatment. Prior to
treatment, 2 weeks in advance, y/d and
Methimazole should be stopped and, 1
week in advance, retesting of the thyroid
hormone levels should be done. This is to
be able to accurately dose the I-131.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HYPERTHYROIDISM
Primary Hyperthyroidism
Secondary Hyperthyroidism
is a disease that affects a felines
parathyroid glands to produce increased
amounts of the hormone responsible that
controls calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus
levels in the bone and blood. Increased
amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH) can
trigger calcium to be released from bones
and tissue into the bloodstream. Elevated
levels of calcium in the blood may lead to
hypocalcaemia. The imbalanced calcium
levels may interfere with the function of
organs such as the heart and kidneys.
is a complication of chronic renal disease
characterized by the increasing
endogenous levels of parathyroid
gland hormone (PTH). This disease is more
common than Primary Hyperthyroidism. In
contrast to primary hyperthyroidism, renal
secondary hyperthyroidism tends not to be
self-sufficient.
SAFETY AND DISPENSING OF METHIMAZOLE
 Take caution on the medications similarity because they may not me similar at all.
There is two different types of thyroidism. Her dog could be hypo while your mother
may be hyper and that mix up of medications would be bad for either one’s health.
You should never take another persons or pets prescription. The concentration and the
drug name of the tablet could be different and there could be other drug
interactions with other medications.
When it comes to handling medications that are in an envelope she should be careful
the dog does not get into that package and take multiples. A safe and reliable
container is a child proof container. Some bottles come with a different lid but even if
the dog got hold of the bottle she might still be able to ingest multiples due to the
bottle being easily operable.
HOW MANY MG OF
METHIMAZOLE WILL THE CAT
RECEIVE EACH TREATMENT?
The cat has been prescribed to
get 2.5 mg of Methimazole each
treatment. Do you like both pics or
just one
ABBREVIATIONS IN
MEDICAL CHART
•BID- twice daily/two times a day
•IV- intravenous
•mg- milligram
•od- once a day
•PO- per os/orally
•prn- as needed (pro re nata)
•q- every
•TID- three times a day
WHEN STORING AND
HANDLING METHMAZOLE
What is an expired drug?
An expiration date is stamped on the side of the drug bottle. This is
the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the full
potency and safety of the drug. After this time you are unable to
sell the product to the public.
What should be done with expired Methimazole?
Methimazole should be
maintained at room temperature.
The acceptable limits for the room
temperature are as follows:
Store at room temperature
between 15 and 30 degrees C
(59 and 86 degrees F)..
Store away from light and
moisture.
Steps to proper disposal
See if there is a medicine take back program in your area
Dispose of in your household trash.
• Mix medicines (do NOT crush tablets or capsules) with an
unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee
grounds
• Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag
• Throw the container in your household trash
 Before throwing out your empty pill bottle or other empty
medicine packaging, remember to scratch out all information
on the prescription label to make it unreadable
Do not discard this drug down the toilet due to it ending up in the
water supply
HOW DOES METHIMAZOLE WORK AND WHEN CAN
I STOP GIVING IT?
Pharmacology/Actions
How long do you give this drug?
Methimazole interferes with iodine
incorporation, which inhibits the synthesis
of they excess thyroid hormones in
circulation.
For lifetime ?
AFTER 2 MONTHS, HOW MANY
OUNCES HAS THE CAT
GAINED?
The cat started out with a weight of 5.28 pounds.
2.4 kg X 2.2 lb/kg= 5.28 lb
After 2 months, the cat weighs 5.8 pounds.
5.28 lb X 16 oz/lb= 84.48 oz
5.8 lbX 16 oz/lb= 92.8 oz
92.8 oz-84.48 oz= 8.32 oz
The cat gained 8.32 ounces.
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REFERENCES
Romich, J. (2010). Hormonal and Reproductive Drugs. In Fundamentals of
pharmacology for veterinary technicians (2nd ed., pp. 288-290). Clifton Park, NY:
Delmar Cengage Learning.
Plumb, D. (2011). Veterinary drug handbook (Pocket 7. ed., pp. 886-889). Ames,
Iowas: Wiley Blackwell.
http://www.vsecvet.com/services/radioactive_iodine.shtml
http://www.vetinfo.com/primary-hyperparathyroidism-cats.html#b
http://vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php/Renal_secondary_hyperparathyroidism
http://carefirst.staywellsolutionsonline.com/relateditems/26,383
http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml