Ever take your beloved companion animal to the vet for an urgent need and wonder how much is this going to cost, and ask the question, will my pet get relief immediately?
Recently, my 17-year-old male Maine Coon, Monster, has been struggling with using his litter box. The yelps and cries as he squats in the litter box are concerning. We called our local veterinarian to schedule a sick visit and earliest appointment would be in three days. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 veterinary clinics are still seeing a tremendous number of patients. And staffing is a major issue with people out sick or even leaving the profession due to stress.
What is Hyperthyrodism?
Our cat suffers from hyperthyroidism, he was diagnosed two years ago when we noticed he lost a substantial amount of weight. Also called thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism is caused by an increase in production of thyroid hormones (known as T3 and T4) from an enlarged thyroid gland in a cat’s neck1. During Monster’s visit, the vet checked his T3 and T4 levels and sent that sample off to a reference lab as they do not have the technology to test in-clinic. The veterinarian also tried to get a urine sample from Monster but was not successful. Monster was given fluids in-clinic due to dehydration and sent home. The visit cost $150 out of pocket. Three days later, the results came in the from the reference lab and his thyroid levels were elevated so a prescription was filled for a higher dose of Felimazole.
Hyperthyroidism Reference Laboratory Results
Three days is a long time to wait when your pet is feeling ill to secure an appointment and then wait even more days for laboratory blood results from the reference lab. As for Monster, he will require monitoring of his T3 and T4 levels every 6 months for the rest of his life to be sure his hyperthyroidism remains in check.
The Solution is In-Clinic PCR Testing in ~2 Hours
LexaGene develops assays for pathogen detection and whether they possess drug resistant genes. Our market research indicates veterinarians and clinicians want technology to enable them to determine the cause of a urinary tract infections (UTI) and other types of infections quickly while identifying antibiotic resistant genes that provide for the appropriate therapy upon the first visit to the veterinarian clinic. This point- of-care diagnostics allow for a much better outcome than traditional culture and sensitivity testing, which requires waiting three to five days for results. During this time, the animal’s condition may deteriorate.
LexaGene’s MiQLab™ veterinary diagnostic technology allows veterinarians to better care for their patients by arriving at a correct diagnosis faster and minimizing unsuccessful treatment pathways.
Sources:
1 Hyperthyroidism in Cats—There’s an FDA-Approved Drug to Treat It | FDA
