Treatment for Dexter

Originally, I set Dexter’s campaign up for assistance with an expensive treatment for his Hyperthyroidism called Radioactive Iodine or I-131. And you can see that story below. After several weeks on a drug trial of the anti thyroid drug Methimazole, to test for i131 candidacy, he was looking good and my vets had high hopes of his eligibility for the treatment. Suddenly, I noticed that Dexter was having difficulty breathing, and after it wasn’t getting any better, we drive him to our vet, who directed us to the ER at the WSU Veterinary teaching hospital. As soon as we arrived, Dexter began to gag and gasp for air. It turns out he developed chylothorax, which is a build up of fluid in the chest cavity. Originally the doctors didn’t think he would make it, but they acted fast and were able to drain the fluid enough to where they could stabilize him. He had to get suction tubes for fluids and for air that is also escaping from his lungs and also on iv fluids and antibiotics and a feeding tube. They currently don’t know what the underlying cause is.

Fortunately, Dexter is improving every day which is surprising the doctors given the state he was in when they first saw him. He is such a tough kitty and has a strong spirit and will to live and come home. His doctors are using words like miraculous, because cats often do not heal so quickly.

Unfortunately, the emergency and follow up treatment for his current problem is 3x more the cost of radioiodine, for which he currently is not able to get anymore, and is hard to say if he’ll he a good candidate in the future. As time permits and when I am able, I post updates of my sweet boys recovery. Thank you for taking the time to read Dexter’s story and considering a donation.

***edit in progress****
Original Story:

I adopted Dexter about two years ago from a shelter in Spokane, WA. He is the most loving and affectionate cat you could meet! Dexter is roughly 10 years old and was in a shelter for most of his life, until I adopted him and gave him a forever home. Dexter, or as I call him “Kitty” or “Hayhay” (the chicken from Muana) is the sweetest and most loving cat I have ever encountered and I love him with all my heart!

Recently, Dexter was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a disease that happens when a non-cancerous tumor forms on the thyroid lobes and increases the output of thyroid hormones from the thyroid glands. The hyperactive thyroid, causes all of his internal systems to speed up. Most noteably an increased metabolism with a big appetite with no weight gain, only loss. This is also bad for internal organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver, as they are all over working.

There are 3 common treatments for this disease; lifelong medication, surgery to remove tumors on the thyroid gland and radioiodine treatment. The medication treatment would have to be lifelong and the surgery has a chance of causing more damage. Radioiodine is a single treatment and in most cases, cures the disease. The radioiodine targets the tumor on the thyroid gland that causes the overproduction of thyroid hormone.

I have opted to start him on the anti-thyroid drug, Methimazole to keep his symptoms under control and get some weight back on him until I can afford the I-131 (radio-iodine).

Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and clinic offers this treatment. Unfortunately, the treatment costs around $1,000.00 and I don’t have that kind of change at my disposal.

I don’t want to keep him on the medicine for too long, as cats can develop an allergy to it, and prolonged usage can cause more damage to his liver. He’s also catching on quick to my attempts to conceal his pills, so he likely will wise up and refuse them soon. If that happens there are other forms/ compounds of the medicine I can try, but still have the same risks risks for long term usage.

Dexter/HayHay is scheduled to get another blood test in approximately three weeks to see if the medication is working. Since the WSU Veterinary hospital, will run those same tests, anyway as part of the intake process for I-131 treatment and included in the $1k treatment cost, it would save Hay-Hay from being poked with needles more than necessary.

I feel so bad that I cannot afford this life saving cure for my kitty. Even living with this disease has not changed how sweet and loving he is. He loves people, pets and snuggles.

Dexter deserves to have a long healthy life. This treatment will pave the way. Thank you for taking the time to read about Dexter and considering a donation. Every little bit helps and will go 100% toward his treatment and anything leftover will be paid forward to support others in need of assistance with a Hyperthyroid cat.

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