PET CLINIC by Dr. Jeff Grognet and

Dr. Louise Janes

Hyperthyroid Cats and
Insurance for Pets

Q: My dog never sees other pets,
does he really need to be vaccinated?
Dr. G: Vaccines are insurance for
your. pet. They protect him against
diseases he might come in contact
with.

Some diseases are acquired by direct
contact with an infected dog — but
many are not. For example, par-
vovirus, a virus that causes severe
vomiting and diarrhea, is shed in dog
stool. Your dog can easily contact
infected stool while walking down the
sidewalk on a leash. Another example
8 rabies. This virus is carried by bats
in B.C. Infected bats can be found
almost anywhere — they will even get
into hquses and apartments by going
down chimneys and through open

windows. Even an indoor pet is at risk .

c? contracting rabies.

These are just two particular exam-
ples. Your dog can pick up an infec-
tious disease even if he doesn't see
other dogs. Vaccination programs « are
common sense insurance.

Q: How do you treat a cat with hyper-
thyroidism?

Dr. J: Hyperthyroidism is caused by a

tumor of the thyroid gland(s), a pair of
smal} glands located at the base of
the neck, This disease is character-
ized by excessive production of thy-
roid hormone - a hormone intimately
involved in just about every process in
the body, but most notably metabo-
lism. Treatment, which is aimed at
reducing thyroid hormone production,
can be approached in three ways.

The first aption is to administer tablets
daily for the remainder of the cat's life.
This medication keeps thyroid hor-
mone production under control but is
not curative.

The second approach is surgical
removal of the affected thyroid giand.
This is successful only if the entire
tumor can be removed.

The final option is the most successful
but also the most expensive. Cats are
given an intravenous injection of
radioactive iodine. Thyroid cells coil-
lect iodine so they will also take up
radioactive iodine. The thyroid tumor
cells that take up this toxic substance
are selectively destroyed. This treat-
ment is 90-95% curative.

Husky X, neutered male,
approx. 8 yrs.

WV SPCA

American Eskimo, neutered male,

1 1/2 yrs.
DORIS ORR

The most

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West Vancouver

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Vancouver

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North Vancouver

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(south of Marins Or.}
North Vancouver
983-2706

7994 Granville St.
Vancouver

264-1866

Husky X, 1 1/2 yrs., spayed,
nat good with children

NV SPCA

Buster

White, neutered
DORIS ORR

TRIXiIE TREATS
“Recommended as a
training aid”

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Edgemont Village

3071 Woodbine
North Vancouver
984-7855