The vet called me again with further results from Luna's blood work. Her thyroid is off the charts hyperactive, and it offers a convenient reason for all of her symptoms. While it sucks that she has thyroid disease, at least we know now what we're dealing with.
There are two treatment options. The first is to give her medication the rest of her life, either by pill or gel in her ear. That will regulate her thyroid, but it's not a cure. The second option is the injection of radioactive iodine, which kills the bad tissue in the thyroid and gives her radioactive poop for a week (she would have to stay isolated). In theory at least, the cure rate is very high. It's about a grand to perform the procedure.
The doc still wants to do an ultrasound of her heart, because of the serious murmur she has. The thyroid problem could quite possibly be aggravating everything the heart issues, and her IBD. It's certainly causing her to eat like a pig and throw up.
So overall it sucks that she has thyroid disease, but at least now we know what to treat.
That's good news that at least the symptoms have a cause now. As with humans, it's tough to watch a pet suffer when no one can pinpoint a reason why.
I grew up in a house with a dog always around, but came to appreciate the company a cat can provide when my college roommate received one. My apartment has seemed pretty lonely and I've actually been contemplating going to the shelter and getting a furball.
Did the doc say whether the radioactive poop would glow in the dark?
Of course the thing you guys focus on is the poop. It cracks me up.
And I must say, NOTHING beats the company of a good cat. I was feeling a little low this afternoon, came home and took a nap. I woke up a few minutes ago with no less than three animals surrounding me. It was nice.