Hyperthyroidism occurs in cats when the thyroid gland overproduces the thyroid hormones. This can cause constant high blood pressure, extreme weight loss, and even diarrhea. While the organ itself is tiny, it can cause a lot of damage to a cat and its life, which is why many cats prefer euthanasia for their cat. But at what point do you know when to euthanize your cat with hyperthyroidism?
Many signs show that your cat will ultimately not conquer hyperthyroidism, while other signs will show you that you should not euthanize your cat.
We will be discussing exactly these in this article, so make sure you follow this guide to know exactly when euthanizing your cat is the best option.
Signs you should euthanize your cat with hyperthyroidism
These signs should give you an idea about how to navigate through the decision of euthanizing your feline friend and will help you judge whether your cat needs to be euthanized.
So, what signs show that you should lean towards euthanizing your cat with hyperthyroidism?
Medications recommended by the vet not working
The most common medications recommended by vets for your cat with hyperthyroidism are Felimazole and Methimazole.
Both of these medications are FDA approved and are known to have cured hyperthyroidism in cats.
But as we know, not every cat is the same and the effects of the medication can vary for each cat.
In many cases of cat hyperthyroidism in the past, both these medicines have in turn caused more problems with the respective disease than to heal it.
Even after taking the maximum dose, there were no signs of hyperthyroidism healing, which can be deeply concerning.
In situations like these, where both the medicines are not working on the cat, there is not a lot of motive to keep the cat alive because it is obvious that it cannot live very long with the disease.
Hence, vets suggest euthanizing a cat to save it the pain of living a life with imbalanced hormones and unnecessary pain.
Side effects of medications causing problems in daily life
This is similar to the above scenario, but in this case, the medication is working, except it is causing various side effects in the cat.
Having side effects from Felimazole and Methimazole is not something out of the ordinary; they have been known to cause nausea, appetite loss, weakness, and minor skin issues in cats with hyperthyroidism.
However, some cats can become a victim of the serious side effects of hormones to healing medications, and this is where problems can arise.
Some serious side effects include:
- Blood clotting
- Loss of platelets
- Loss of immunity
- Further diseases because of weak immunity
Sometimes these side effects can be combated by giving counter medicines for switching up the medicine, but if this does not work, then euthanizing your cat with hyperthyroidism might be a suitable option.
Further organs affected after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism
Sometimes if a disease is not treated properly and not given enough medical attention, it can snowball effect into multiple diseases in a short span of time.
A good example of this can be diabetes. If you do not give your cat the right dose of insulin at the right time, or worse, don’t give it at all, then slowly but surely it will affect the kidney, then the heart, then eyes etc.
The cat with one disease is now a victim of multiple diseases.
Similar to this, improper treatment of hyperthyroidism can also result in more or less the same situation.
It is important to make sure that the treatment is properly conducted from the get go.
Otherwise, it is difficult for a cat to survive with a few organs, and the next best option is to euthanize it.
In a situation like this, a vet should be consulted for all possible options before euthanasia takes place.
Age and activity of the cat
An older cat with hyperthyroidism is less likely to live a longer and healthier life. A lazy cat that is obese will also find it difficult to live long.
Of course, this is not always the case and factors such as the breed and genetics of the cat also come into play.
But in most cases, even if the older cat can be treated, the constant medical treatments and medicines are not worth its short lifespan and pain.
Therefore, it may be best to euthanize the cat for its own good.
[H3]You won’t be able to intensively care for your cat if it does heal
Say your cat does heal from hyperthyroidism, but it has to be injected with medications every day, and eat only certain types of food to stay alive.
Will you be able to provide your cat with the best treatment till the end of its life?
If not, then it is time to consider what your next steps are in your cat’s hyperthyroidism journey.
Many cat owners euthanize their cats to put an end to the pain of being pumped with medicines daily.
Signs you should not euthanize your cat with hyperthyroidism
Look out for these signs in your cat before you decide to euthanize it:
There are chances of improvement
As sick as your cat gets with hyperthyroidism, if the doctor says that your cat is getting better and should survive, then you should give it some time.
Sometimes a situation has to get worse before it can get better, it is all for the best.
This does not mean you are putting your cat through unnecessary pain. If your cat can live a healthy life even with hyperthyroidism, then that is best for both of you.
The medications are working, and side effects are treatable as well
As we mentioned in the above topic, hyperthyroidism medications can have side effects, but only some cats are afflicted with serious symptoms.
If your cat is one of those, then do not panic. Try all the medications your vet has given to counter the side effects, and if they go away, great.
Just make sure that the medicine for side effects does not cause further allergies. Dealing with hyperthyroidism, side effects, and allergies can be tough for your cat to live through.
[H3]Cat is expected to live a healthy and long life
This factor depends most on the predicted survival rate of cats after hyperthyroidism.
What do the past stats say about how many cats similar to yours were able to live through this disease?
What was their lifespan? Did they live a quality life or were they constantly under medical attention?
Yes, every cat is different, but all these questions will give you a rough idea to help determine whether euthanizing your cat is the best idea if it has hyperthyroidism.
Therefore, if the future for your cat looks bright based on its current situation, then you do not need to euthanize it.
If finances are a problem for the treatment
If the vet says that your cat can be healed, but you cannot afford the expenses covering its treatment then don’t euthanize it!
Some shelters and charities can use donations to provide for your cat’s treatment.
If you are afraid that the long-term cost of keeping the cat will be too high, then you can put your cat up for adoption in shelters, they usually take care of felines and pooches as well.
You can ask your vet for more information about this, or simply inquire about shelters and adoption homes in your local area, they shall guide you accordingly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when should you euthanize your cat with hyperthyroidism?
As expected, there is no definite answer to this. It depends on your cat and its current situation of how it is battling hyperthyroidism.
But we have mentioned a few factors that can help you determine when you should euthanize your feline friend.
There are also other factors that will tell you when you should not euthanize your cat, so hopefully, they will be helpful.
Other than that, you always want to talk to your vet about any decision whether big or small you take with your vet.
It is very important that every choice you make for your hyperthyroidism cat should be carefully considered and discussed because it can impact it for life.
The decision for euthanization for cats with ibd, lymphoma, liver failure, hyperthyroidism, fip or diabetes can be difficult. Multiple expert opinions can actually be best for your cat.