On 8/14/2013 6:39 PM, wrote:

I think removing his thyroid is a death sentence if you are not
prepared to give him thyroid supplements the rest of his life.


You are correct. Fatality for thyroidectomy is about 10%. And if the
parathyroid glands are damaged calcium regulation can be upset.
For those interested in treatments for hyperthyroidism in cats read he
http://www.2ndchance.info/hyperthyroid.htm
"Surgical removal of the diseased portions of your cat's thyroid glands
is sometimes another option. But during the surgery, the difficult
decision must be made as to how much of the glands to remove. There is
no precise way to make this decision. If too much of the cat's thyroids
are removed, the cat will become hypothyroid and need lifelong thyroid
medications. If too little of the glands are removed, the cat will
remain hyperthyroid. Sometimes, it is appropriate to remove all of the
thyroid. Cats usually have small islands of thyroid tissue scattered in
other locations in their bodies. These "ectopic thyroid cells" can
usually produce all the thyroid hormone the cat will need. But they can
also lead to the re-appearance of hyperthyroidism months or years later."

and he http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinehyperthyroidism

buglady
take out the dog before replying