Thyroidectomy Surgery in Cats

What It Is, Why It's Needed, What to Expect, and How We Support You

Why Might Your Pet Need This Surgery?

Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of one or both thyroid glands and is performed to treat feline hyperthyroidism, a common condition in older cats caused by a benign or occasionally malignant tumor of the thyroid gland.

Surgery may be recommended when:

  • Medical management (e.g., methimazole) is not tolerated or effective
  • Owners prefer a permanent solution
  • Radioactive iodine therapy is unavailable or declined
  • The thyroid gland is visibly enlarged or causing compression

Referrals Required for This Surgery

Our hospital does not provide diagnostic or consultation services for thyroid disease. Instead, your pet's care is transferred to us once a referring veterinarian has performed the diagnostic workup and recommended surgery.

We require a referral for the following reasons:

  • The decision to pursue surgery should be made with your primary veterinarian, who knows your pet's medical history, has completed the necessary diagnostics, and can discuss the full range of treatment options with you.
  • Our surgical team's role begins after surgery has been advised. We do not offer in-clinic imaging, diagnostics, or pre-surgical consultations.
  • A referral allows us to prioritize patient safety by reviewing complete records and understanding the medical background before proceeding with anesthesia and surgery.

What qualifies as a referral?

We're flexible. A referral can be as simple as:

  • A shared set of medical records from your veterinarian
  • A treatment plan indicating that surgery has been recommended
  • A brief summary emailed, texted, or faxed from your vet's team
  • Direct communication between our team and your rDVM

Our team will review the records in advance, and if we have any questions, we'll reach out directly to the referring clinic.

If you're a pet owner, please talk with your veterinarian first about whether surgery is the right option. Once that decision is made, we're here to provide safe, compassionate, and efficient surgical care.

What Does the Surgery Involve?

Thyroidectomy is performed under general anesthesia and involves the removal of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) thyroid glands through a small incision in the neck. The parathyroid glands are carefully preserved when possible to avoid complications with calcium regulation, however many times the parathyroid glands are removed with the thyroid in situations where only one thyroid gland is removed.

Bloodwork and blood pressure control prior to surgery are essential for minimizing risks in hyperthyroid cats.

Are There Alternatives?

Yes. Other treatments include:

  • Daily medication (methimazole) — effective but may cause side effects and requires ongoing monitoring
  • Radioactive iodine therapy (I-131) — a non-surgical treatment that can permanently cure hyperthyroidism but may not be available locally

If surgery is chosen, it offers a permanent, drug-free solution in most cases.

What Are the Benefits?

  • Potential cure of hyperthyroidism
  • No need for lifelong medication or lab monitoring
  • Improved quality of life and decreased risk of secondary organ damage (e.g., heart or kidney)

What Are the Risks?

  • Anesthetic complications
  • Low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) if parathyroids are affected
  • Voice changes or laryngeal dysfunction (rare)
  • Persistence or recurrence of hyperthyroidism
  • Underlying kidney disease becoming apparent after correction
  • Removal of the healthy thyroid gland

What's Included in Our Surgical Care

Surgery Package: $693.00

Price includes:

  • A personalized anesthesia plan with multimodal pain control
  • IV catheter placement and fluids
  • Anesthesia and multiparameter monitoring
  • Unilateral or bilateral thyroid gland removal
  • Post-op stabilization and in-clinic recovery
  • Take-home medications
  • Discharge instructions and recovery plan

When Additional Care Is Needed

In some cases, pets require more intensive or ongoing care after surgery. Because we are an outpatient only clinic, transfer to an overnight hospital may be recommended.

Pets may need overnight care, especially if:

  • They experience drops in calcium that require IV supplementation
  • They have elevated blood pressure or post-op vomiting
  • They require injectable medications or extended hospitalization for stabilization

If this happens, we will coordinate a transfer to an emergency or specialty facility, and any costs associated with that transfer and continued care will be the owner's responsibility.

Aftercare: What to Expect at Home

Your pet will go home with:

  • Prescription medications for pain and infection control
  • Instructions for activity restriction and wound care
  • Follow-up plan with your full-service veterinarian for ongoing medical care and thyroid level surveillance after surgery

Most pets start to feel better quickly once the source of excess thyroid hormone is removed, but healing takes time. We're here to help every step of the way.

Have Questions?

Please reach out to our team. We are happy to review records, coordinate with your veterinarian, and guide you through this process.