Q: We've got a 15-year-old cat named Copernicus. He'd been losing drastic amounts of weight recently in spite of a healthy appetite so we took him to the vet to get him checked out. It turns out he has hyperthyroidism and our veterinarian wants us to consider a special radioactive injection treatment. It's very expensive and we're afraid that he's too old to put him through it. What do you think?

A: Hyperthyroidism is a common disease of older cats in which cells of the metabolism-regulating thyroid gland proliferate and become overactive.

As you've described, these cats lose dramatic amounts of weight while eating ravenously, just as you'd expect of any human whose thyroid gland is stuck on overdrive. Some will also suffer vomiting and/or diarrhea and a variety of other problems.

Though we're starting to find some evidence that certain chemicals can bring this disease on, we're still uncertain about what exactly causes it.

The one thing we do know is that hyperthyroidism can be treated with pills or transdermal gels, through surgery to remove the afflicted gland, or via the radioactive iodide treatment you refer to.

Each method has its benefits, but by far the most effective is this single-injection, I-131 treatment. But at $1,100 to $1,500 this radioactive approach is considered onerously expensive.

Any way you slice it, though, treating hyperthyroidism is expensive. The pills and gels can cost anywhere from $1 to $2 a day and they're not considered a ''cure,'' as is the I-131 treatment. Add in the bloodwork required to maintain the proper dose of medication and within one to two years you'll likely spend the same amount as the ''hot injection'' treatment. Surgery is currently out of favor, but some vets still prefer it. Yet its price, too, can add up quickly.

The trouble with hyperthyroidism is the age at which cats tend to become afflicted. Too many people feel that an old pet is not worth investing in. Yet I would respectfully submit that you consider what you would do for a younger pet and apply that same rationale to how you handle Copernicus' case. After all, he may well live to be 20, as many house cats do these days.

Making medical decisions for animals, as for humans, should be considered independent of their age. In this case, consider the benefits of a painless hospital stay over medicating a cat every day for the rest of his life, however long that may be. Even at 15, I'm sure he's worth it.

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