Bird Videos Helping Sick Cats At OSU

Felines Cannot Be Handled During Treatment

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Cats undergoing radioactive treatment for thyroid problems at Oklahoma State University have a new way to pass the time.

The school's veterinary teaching hospital is showing movies to the felines.

The videos, which include chirping birds and other cat interests, play on a television facing a cat's cage.

Animals undergoing treatment for feline hyperthyroidism receive injections of radioactive isotopes and have to be isolated for up to three weeks. That means they see hospital staffers only when they're bringing food or water or changing their litter.

"They are instructed not to handle the cats, no stroking, no petting," said Dr. Robert Bahr, head of radiology. "Some cats ... have a real bond to humans."

Many cats are not used to going without attention for that long.

That's why one pet owner donated videos, a videocassette recorder and a television to the hospital. Sally Quillion, of Oklahoma City, was worried about her cat, Ms. Kitty, who was suffering chronic kidney problems.

"Ms. Kitty had been abandoned by her former owner, and I didn't want her to feel that she was being abandoned again," Quillion said.

Ms. Kitty ended up not being a candidate for the treatment, but Quillion donated the equipment anyway.

"When we decided that it would be best to delay her treatment until her kidney function stabilized, it just made sense to donate the unit to help the other kitties," Quillion said.

Bahr said the videos are making a difference at the hospital. Cats, just like human patients, need distractions and soothing, he said.

"When you peek through the viewing window, the cats are often watching the video," he said.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Answers

Do they have a video of young hunks at play for old gits like me?

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

OG,

Not sure. If not, maybe I can take my camcorder and make one for you. Auditions, auditions, auditions.... oh the work! But since you are such a friend, I'll do it anyway. ;)

apoc

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

OG,

Thank you VERY much for posting this! My Platz, 16 years old, has a racing thyroid and a heart murmur. He's emaciated, no matter how much food we give him, even fatty hamburger, etc...! His momma died from a stroke from the thyroid problem too, she didn't have the heart murmur, so she passed much younger.

I only wish I could afford the treatment for Platz, if he could stand it! He's my little baby monster and I hate to see him so skinny...

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

It was apoc who started the thread.

Now, your kitty. There is a medicine he can take--I gave it to my old Sooty for over a year. More info here:

Cat Health-Related Links

Scroll to "Hyperthyroidism."

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

OG,

Ooops, thanks! (Thanks to Apoc too!) Also, OG, thanks for the link, will do some researching now...

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

The medicine--begins with a T, can't remember--did wonders for Sooty. There are some serious side effects to watch out for but Sooty didn't develop any. No treatment at all means their little hearts wear out in no time. The medicine isn't prohibitively expensive; call around the pharmacies for the best price. As for the radioactive treatment, you might be able to find a hyperthyroidism treatment center that will let you pay off the amount or, like my local one, takes credit cards :) It's horribly expensive but I was going to do it eventually except the kidney disease got her first.

Also, if your cat has kidney failure (which he probably does at his age), he will live longer on a kidney diet food. The Hill's is usually unpalatable to most cats. Waltham has a more tasty one (I'm going by kitty reaction, haven't tested it personally), also I hear Eukanuba has come out with a good-tasting kidney food. Failing that, chicken is better for the kitty than anything else because he can use more of the protein. Chicken broth you make yourself is a help (no sodium!) to put on the kidney diet food to make it tastier.

Kidney kitties usually suffer from a bit of dehydration, hence canned food is preferable to dry. At some point you might have to give him subcutaneous Ringer's solution, which will make him feel much better. It's not as difficult as it sounds. I think there's info at the link I gave you. You can also read up on "chronic renal failure" or perhaps just "kidney" or "renal," can't remember how it's indexed. The solution and set-up are lots less expensive at drsfostersmith.com but you need a prescription from your vet to get it.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001