Content
- What is hyperthyroidism in cats?
- Causes of Hyperthyroidism in Cats
- Hyperthyroidism symptoms in cats
- Diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism
- How to Treat Hyperthyroidism in Cats
O feline hyperthyroidism it is one of those diseases that, most of the time, manages to go unnoticed, manifesting itself only when the cat's health is already seriously compromised.
It is a very common condition, especially in cats over 7 years of age. The disease itself is not fatal, but it does lead to complications that put the feline's life at risk by attacking several of its vital organs. That's why we present you, here at PeritoAnimal, this article about hyperthyroidism in cats - symptoms and treatment. Keep reading!
What is hyperthyroidism in cats?
Hyperthyroidism in cats is a disease documented only since 1970. It is common in old age cats, especially those over 10 years old, being more frequent in the Siamese breed.
It consists of a change in the body due to overproduction of hormones from thyroid (T3 and T4). If detected early, there is a high probability of control and improvement, but otherwise, the complications that accompany this excessive secretion of hormones are fatal for the cat.
Causes of Hyperthyroidism in Cats
The main cause of feline hyperthyroidism is increased production of hormones in the thyroid, both T3 and T4. This increase is mostly due to a disorder resulting from a disease related to the thyroid lobes.
The cause is due to the fact that, as the size of the lobes increases as a result of the disease, the hormone becomes secreted in greater quantities, affecting the balance of the entire organism.
In approximately 10% of affected cats, the disease is caused by the presence of a carcinoma (cancerous mass), in which case the prognosis of improvement is reduced.
This other article on inflammatory bowel disease in cats might also interest you.
Hyperthyroidism symptoms in cats
One of the problems with hyperthyroidism in cats is that, in most cases, there are no clear symptoms of the disease. They start to appear when the pathology is already advanced, even because, as we already know, cats are experts in hiding symptoms of any kind of disease. This makes it necessary to be aware of any abnormality in the behavior and habits of your feline, to detect in time this or any other illness.
Normally, the cat's owner notices that something is wrong when he notices that his companion eats the same amount of food or more, but presents obvious weight loss.
Hyperthyroidism in cats can also have other alarming symptoms, like:
- chronic diarrhea
- Depression
- hyperactivity
- nervous or skittish behavior
- frequent vomiting
- inability to jump
- loss of strength
- sloppy coat and knots
- Arrhythmia
- dyspnea
- disorientation
- Aggressiveness
- Unusual nocturnal vocalizations
These symptoms do not appear suddenly and not all together, but rather progressively. Therefore, if there is carelessness, it is possible that they go unnoticed.
When thyroid secretion increases, kidney function it is directly affected and, therefore, kidney failure is the greatest danger, putting the cat's life at risk.
Diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism
In principle, the size transformation that the thyroid lobes undergo is usually noticeable in cat neck palpation. This, of course, will not be enough to give a definitive diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, nor will the absence of this symptom mean that the cat does not suffer from the disease.
To be sure, several medical examinations are required. The most important is the complete blood test, in which it will be possible to assess not only the status of white blood cells and the health of the feline in general, but also the levels of liver enzymes (essential to detect a kidney problem).
In addition, the electrocardiogram to assess the possibility of a heart problem such as arrhythmia and tachycardia.
How to Treat Hyperthyroidism in Cats
When the test results are positive for feline hyperthyroidism, there are 3 types of treatments recommended. The choice of each one depends not only on your country of residence, as one of them is not available worldwide, but also on the cat's age, weight and health status, as well as the possibility of liver or heart complications:
- The first option is administer antithyroid drugs, a treatment that must be followed for the rest of your life. This option is not a cure, as it does not eliminate the source of the problem, but it keeps thyroid hormone levels stable. There may be side effects, so it is recommended that you have a veterinary visit every 3 months to review the dose and adjust it if necessary.
- The second option is the thyroidectomy, which is nothing more than the removal of the thyroid. This measure usually eradicates much of the problem, although there is a very high risk of mortality. Usually, a therapy with active principles is applied and then surgery is resorted to, as this reduces the lethality of the treatment. This solution should not be chosen if the cat has liver disease or diabetes.
- The last possibility is to apply a treatment with radioactive iodine, which is considered the best option. However, this option is not available in all countries as not all have nuclear medicine centers for pets.
Radioactive iodine removes tissue that has grown abnormally, leaving the thyroid gland intact and reducing levels of hormone secretion. This treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats is given subcutaneously and poses no risk; in addition, less than 10% of patients need a second dose, which makes it highly effective.
There are pros and cons to applying each of these treatments. Consulting the veterinarian it will be possible to know the most suitable option for your feline.
Now that you know all about feline hyperthyroidism, be sure to watch this video on the 10 most common cat diseases:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Hyperthyroidism in Cats - Symptoms and Treatments, we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.