 August
2009
Lucas
Lucas is a very handsome 15 year old domestic shorthair cat. He
has recently stayed in our 24 hour hospital for three nights following
an operation to remove his thyroid glands. He was diagnosed with
hyperthyroidism in December 2008.
Hyperthyroidism is a common problem seen in older cats. It is caused
when the thyroid glands, situated in the neck, produce too much thyroid
hormone. Cats with hyperthyroidism show signs of weight loss, a ravenous
appetite and drinking more than normal. It is diagnosed by a simple
blood test. The blood, taken from the jugular vein in the neck, is
then tested in our laboratory, we can receive the results within
15 minutes.
After being diagnosed Lucas was treated with tablets that were given
twice a day by his owners. These tablets need to be continued for
the rest of Lucas’s life. After careful consideration it was
decided that Lucas was an ideal candidate for a thyroidectomy. A
thyroidectomy is where one or both of the thyroid glands are removed
surgically and means that life long medication is no longer needed.
A thyroidectomy is a very delicate operation because sitting very
close to the thyroid glands are the parathyroid glands. These little
glands control calcium within the body, and if damaged can cause
post-operative complications.
He was admitted in the morning for his operation. An intravenous
drip was started and he was sedated ready for his full general anaesthetic.
His anaesthetic was monitored at all times by a Qualified Veterinary
Nurse whilst Haydn operated to remove the thyroid glands. His operation
was a success and his parathyroid glands were left undamaged.
He stayed with us at The Pets Practice for three nights, and his
calcium levels were checked on a daily basis to make sure they remained
stable. Whilst in the hospital he enjoyed a lot of attention from
the nursing staff. His favourite pastime was purring and eating everything
that was offered to him!
Lucas was a pleasure to look after and we all wish him a speedy
recovery.
Click
here to see July's Pet of the Month - Rabby the English Lop-Eared
rabbit.
Click
here to see June's Pet of the Month - Thomas the West Highland White
Terrier.
Click here to see May's Pet of the Month - Harvey
the Boxer puppy.
Click
here to see April's Pet of the Month - Mitzi the Yorkshire Terrier.
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