Living with a Senior Cat-izen

Dozy turned 14 just before her annual checkup in May. The vet has a chart on the wall converting cat years to human years - it's not the same as dogs - and Dozy is apparently 73. She's a very active and feisty 73 (as the vet and techs discovered during the exam!).

Despite her apparent good health, Dozy's blood tests came back with high-normal thyroid levels. Since she wasn't showing any other symptoms of hyperthyroidism, the vet recommended coming back for a recheck in 3-4 months.

So earlier this month we went back for another round of tests. Dozy's thyroid levels appeared to have dropped, but so had her weight - a full 8 oz. Which, for a cat who has been on a diet for years and only lost about 4 oz., was kind of a lot. So they ran a second set of tests, and they came back with elevated thyroid levels.

The vet recommended one of two treatment options: medical management (not a cure) or radioactive iodine (a cure). The radioactive iodine has to be done at a place in the 'burbs and requires a 3 day hospital stay, as well as a number of tests beforehand. The medical management involves pills, a check after 3-4 weeks, and checks every 6 months thereafter.

Dozy sez pills.

So, we'll be embarking on this new adventure once I return from next week's business trip. I've already scouted out the Pill Pockets and gotten the pill popper ready...