05/25/2026
It’s been almost 2 months since Charlotte’s surgery, and many of you have been asking about her recent procedure! Charlotte is our 14 and 1/2 year old hospital cat. She has lived at Brookside Veterinary Hospital her entire life!
Charlotte was diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease, a condition caused by a benign tumor that develops in one of the two thyroid glands in the neck. This disease can cause symptoms such as weight loss, a dramatic increase in appetite, vomiting, excessive drinking and urination, irritability, and an unkempt hair coat.
Initially, Charlotte was managed with daily medication, but unfortunately it was no longer effective. We also tried a prescription diet, which did not give us the results we hoped for. Since she was not a candidate for radioactive iodine therapy at a specialty hospital, surgery became the next best option.
Dr. Morgan Ely successfully removed the affected thyroid gland containing the tumor with our state of the art surgical laser. Charlotte’s anesthesia and recovery went very smoothly thanks to careful sedation, anesthesia monitoring, and maintaining her body temperature throughout the procedure by our amazing veterinary technician, Tanya. There were no external stitches to remove, as all sutures were internal and will dissolve over time.
Charlotte is doing wonderful, and we are so happy with her progress! ❤️
If your middle-aged or senior pet seems “off” in any way, we strongly encourage scheduling an exam at the first sign of change or illness. Early detection and treatment can make a HUGE difference in the health and prognosis of your beloved pet.
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