# Vet wants my cat on steroids. Risks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804 "2005-03-16T14:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/1 "2005-03-16T14:03:30Z")
I am taking kitty to the vet today to discuss putting him on steroids. He is anemic due to a thyroid condition which put him in kidney failure a few months ago. He is being medicated for his hyperthyroid with methimazole and his kidneys are now fully healed and functioning normally. I have managed to raise his hematocrit levels a little by giving him an oral iron supplement but he hates it and will often hork it up. My vet said I could try giving him a steroid shot 2 or 3 times a month for a couple of months and that should bring his hematocrit levels up to normal and that they should remain normal after we stop the steroids. I guess my question is, have any of you had any experience with your cats like this? How did it work for you and did your cat suffer any ill effects. I plan on interrogating my vet this afternoon but I am leery of giving my cat steroids because I worry that it will negatively affect his kidneys. On the other hand, not treating his anemia could be fatal in the long run too. I’m just worried about that fuzzy little shit so any info would be enormously appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/2 "2005-03-16T15:20:50Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > I am taking kitty to the vet today to discuss putting him on steroids. He is anemic due to a thyroid condition which put him in kidney failure a few months ago. He is being medicated for his hyperthyroid with methimazole and his kidneys are now fully healed and functioning normally. I have managed to raise his hematocrit levels a little by giving him an oral iron supplement but he hates it and will often hork it up. My vet said I could try giving him a steroid shot 2 or 3 times a month for a couple of months and that should bring his hematocrit levels up to normal and that they should remain normal after we stop the steroids. I guess my question is, have any of you had any experience with your cats like this? How did it work for you and did your cat suffer any ill effects. I plan on interrogating my vet this afternoon but I am leery of giving my cat steroids because I worry that it will negatively affect his kidneys. On the other hand, not treating his anemia could be fatal in the long run too. I’m just worried about that fuzzy little shit so any info would be enormously appreciated. I have a cat who has been steroids for almost two years. She hasn’t had any side effects, and the difference is tremendous. The stuff was prescribed for chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Her regular blood tests show no kidney, liver or heart problems. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/3 "2005-03-16T15:22:59Z")
Firstly, what do you mean by “steroid”. Both catabolic steroids (like prednisone) and anabolic steroids (like stanozolol) are used in anemic cats. If you are worried about the cat I would first explore the cause of the anemia. Methimazole is a nasty drug with many potential side effects including anemias and other cell dyschrasias. My first choice for hyperthyroid cats is an injection of I-131. Expensive, but very safe. Next choice is thyroidectomy. Last choice is Methimazole. If $$ allows only Methimazole treatment, then I would say that steroid therapy is low risk. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/4 "2005-03-16T15:28:32Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Vet wants my cat on steroids. Risks? Next time you don’t change his litterbox, he KICKS YOUR ASS. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/5 "2005-03-16T15:51:56Z")
^ Only if the 'roids are anabolic. In a case like **oldbataoutahell** where IBD is being treated, those are catabolic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/6 "2005-03-16T15:56:38Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Firstly, what do you mean by “steroid”. Both catabolic steroids (like prednisone) and anabolic steroids (like stanozolol) are used in anemic cats. If you are worried about the cat I would first explore the cause of the anemia. Methimazole is a nasty drug with many potential side effects including anemias and other cell dyschrasias. > > My first choice for hyperthyroid cats is an injection of I-131. Expensive, but very safe. Next choice is thyroidectomy. Last choice is Methimazole. If $$ allows only Methimazole treatment, then I would say that steroid therapy is low risk. He wants to put him on an anabolic steroid. You’ve piqued my interest now by mentioning alternatives to methimazole. I had no idea there could be nasty side affects. The only one I noticed in the beginning was stomach upset and vomiting. I now have his methimazole made into a cream for a transdermal application on the skin of his ear. He has stopped the vomiting. Can you enlighten be a little bit about the other side affects? Also you mentioned a shot of l-131 for the thyroid condition. What is it, what does it do and roughly how much could this cost? My vet never mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/7 "2005-03-16T16:05:39Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Next time you don’t change his litterbox, he KICKS YOUR ASS. Are you kidding me? He already has a mean right hook. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/8 "2005-03-16T16:22:25Z")
I-131 is a radioactive isotope of iodine. It is given by injection, subcutaneously . The thyroid accumulates iodine. The isotope destroys the gland, curing the problem. Cost varies with location, average $1,000.00. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/9 "2005-03-16T16:24:32Z")
Thanks folks. I appreciate your timely responses. I’m off to the vet shortly. At least now I’m armed with a little more info. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/10 "2005-03-16T16:26:15Z")
There is a “chain” of veterinary practices that does I-131 treatment. They are very good. [http://www.radiocat.com/](http://www.radiocat.com/) ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/11 "2005-03-16T16:34:08Z")
from the above link: > [@](#): > > Anti-thyroid drugs like Tapazole do not offer a cure for hyperthyroidism but rather act to reduce thyroid hormone production and thus lessen its effects on various organ systems. Initially developed to treat this condition in people, Tapazole was never intended for long term usage but rather as a stop gap procedure to be used while patients were deciding whether or not to pursue I-131 therapy or surgery. These drugs can also cause a wide range of undesirable side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, pruritus (itching) and facial scabbing, kidney dysfunction (with long term usage) as well as a drop in both white blood cells (needed to fight off infections) and clotting factors. Your cat may also become unresponsive to Tapazole or it may simply stop working. These drugs require pilling one to three times daily, and frequent blood tests to monitor white blood cell counts and thyroid hormone levels. The estimated cost of medical management performed as recommended in the veterinary literature (the cost of Tapazole and the necessary blood tests) is $800 for the first year, and $600 a year for the rest of your cat’s life. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/12 "2005-03-16T16:39:15Z")
(Tapazole is a brand name for the drug Methimazole) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/13 "2005-03-16T17:15:00Z")
A million “thank yous”\*\* Vetbridge\*\* for the information. I will definitely be having a chat with my vet. I’m a littled bothered that he did not mention iodine therapy. My cat is older (almost 12) but I feel he is still young enough that with proper care and pampering he can live alot longer with a high quality of life. I looked up the cost at a veterinary hospital in Michigan that says it will be roughly $1400-$1500 dollars (including initial blood testing) for the iodine therapy. That’s not too bad when you consider I pay $50 per scrip for the methimazole. It’s the compounding that racks up the price but I have no choice because he vomits if he takes it orally. I absolutely don’t want to resort to a thyroidectomy unless it was a life or death situation. I don’t like to suject my pets to any unneccesary surgeries. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/14 "2005-03-16T17:17:50Z")
That it might later get elected governor? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/15 "2005-03-16T17:42:47Z")
You are welcome, **The Chao Goes Mu**. If I can be of any more help, feel free to email me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/16 "2005-03-16T22:07:14Z")
If the thyroid is eliminated, via radioactive iodine or surgery, won’t this mean that the cat will need supplements of thyroid hormones for the rest of its life? I mean, the thyroid isn’t exactly an optional organ. It was my understanding that this is the case for humans, and I would presume that cats would be likewise. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/17 "2005-03-16T23:59:37Z")
I’ll cover off the last joke: Your cat should be okay, and the St. Louis Cardinals will offer him a contract. ---
**Author:** ![richardb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/96bed5/32.png) [@richardb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richardb)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/18 "2005-03-17T09:53:46Z")
Here is some additional information, discussing the causes of the disease and the advantages and disadvantages of the various treatments: [Hyperthyroidism Information Center](http://www.marvistavet.com/html/thyroid.html) We had a 16 year old cat who had the radiation treatment, and he lived to become an old man cat who died at age 20. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/19 "2005-03-17T14:21:33Z")
**UPDATE** Since you all were kind enough to give me info I thought I’d let you know what’s going on. I spoke with the vet yesterday. First off, Bean’s (the cat) hematocrit was 27 up from 24 in January so we decided on the weekly steroid shots to bring the level up to the normal range of 35-40. He basically said there is always a remote chance that it could affect the kidneys but we are going to monitor his blood just to make sure all is good. Gastrointestinal upset is also a possibility but again, it’s most likely he will not suffer any negative reactions. His T-4 has finally reached 3 which is normal. So the methimazole is working. We discussed I-131 and he said yes, it is effective but the cost is actually going to be more than anticipated. They would want to draw blood and do a radiation test on it first and that’s costly. Not to mention the other blood tests involved. And to answer your question, **Chronos** , thryoid replacement therapy for I-131 or a thyroidectomy is necessary. I inquired about the long term affects of methimazole and he said that some cats do have problems with it. My cat seems to be adjusting quite well to the meds. We agreed to check his kidney function every 2-3 months and his liver about every 4-5. So far all his levels are normal. He has not exhibited any of the side effects mentioned. Apparently the fact that my cat eats well and drinks plenty of liquids is what helps prevent some of the side effects (according to the vet.) So overall I am greatly relieved. I am planning on putting I-131 on the backburner for now for use only if the methimazole becomes a problem. Thanks again Dopers! C ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804/20 "2005-03-17T17:22:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I would presume that cats would be likewise. Actually, although _some_ veterinarians supplement thyroid hormone post thyroidectomy, I never have. Cats are very different than dogs and humans. Cats do very well in a hypothyroid state as long as they are mature. (Congenital hypothyroidism leads to cretinism.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-wants-my-cat-on-steroids-risks/294804.md?page=2)