Paul, a female long haired black cat, had been suffering terribly due to feline hyperthyroidism.
Despite being on methimazole medication, Paul’s fur was heavily matted, and she looked ill-kept. Her jaw muscles had atrophied to the point she could no longer chew properly or eat, even though she was clearly hungry and wanted to. Food would simply fall out of her mouth.
To make matters worse, Paul couldn’t groom or clean her coat properly. This was exacerbated by the need to be syringe-fed a concentrated nutrient paste, which often ended up on her chest fur, matting it further.
At one point, according to her concerned owners, Paul had lost so much weight and become so frail that when her claw got stuck in her pet bed, she tried to free herself and dislocated her shoulder.
Knowing they had to act, Paul’s owners sought alternative treatment options for feline hyperthyroidism in the form of i131 treatment. At the time, nothing was available in Southland, so they were prepared to travel elsewhere in the country to access the treatment.
An unwell and underweight Paul before i131 treatment
Post-treatment, Paul’s transformation was remarkable.
She now eats happily, has returned to a healthy weight, displays a calmer temperament, and takes exceptional care of her coat.
Naturally, Paul’s owners are over the moon and feel a great sense of relief, as it had been an incredibly worrying and stressful time.
Paul post-treatment with a lovely coat and healthy weight
The good news? Cats like Paul no longer need to travel for this innovative treatment.
Southland’s very first Radioactive Iodine Treatment Centre has now opened its doors at our VetSouth Invercargill Clinic.
Make an enquiry today about radioactive iodine treatment at our Invercargill Findlay Road clinic
We are very thankful to Paul's owners for allowing us to share Paul's positive journey to recovery from hyperthyroidism through i131 treatment.
