Swanbridge Vets - Yorkshire - Animal & Equine Veterinary ...



Hyperthyroidism in CatsWhat is hyperthyroidism and what causes it?The thyroid gland is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. In hyperthyroidism the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than normal. In the majority of cases the increased production of thyroid hormones is due to a benign tumour of the thyroid gland. In a small minority of cats (1-3%) the increased production can be due to a malignant tumour of the thyroid gland.Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in cats. The reason for this is not known but it is thought that it may be linked to feeding tinned foods, the use of cat litter and certain chemical products such as insecticides. However, there has yet to be a firm link made between these risk factors and the disease.What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?right7493000Below is a list of common symptoms associated with hyperthyroidismVomitingWeight lossIncreased appetiteIncreased thirst and urinationErratic behaviourHow is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?If we suspect your cat has hyperthyroidism we will first carry out a routine blood test to check your cat’s overall health. This will enable us to rule out other underlying illnesses that may have similar symptoms. If we still suspect your cat is suffering from hyperthyroidism then we will perform one or several blood tests to check your cat’s thyroid hormone levels. This enables us to confirm the disease and will help with deciding on the best treatment option.How is hyperthyroidism treated?There are three main ways in which hyperthyroidism can be treatedMedically with the use of daily tabletsSurgically, involving removal of the diseased thyroid tissueRadioactive iodine, a treatment designed to target only the diseased thyroid tissueAll three of these options have pro’s and con’s. The treatment that may be most appropriate for one cat may not be suitable for another. For this reason, these treatment options will be discussed with you by the vet at the time of diagnosis. In the majority of cases, cats are started on oral medication. This enables the condition to be stabilised and is often a safer initial treatment option in elderly cats that would not be suitable for an anaesthetic (for surgery) or long periods of hospitalisation (for radioactive iodine).How will the disease progress?3714750287020After the initial diagnosis we advise rechecking your cat’s thyroid levels at 3, 5 and 8 weeks after the start of medication. This will enable us to ensure we are giving your cat the correct dose to keep his/her symptoms under control. It is also important to recheck your cat’s blood cell levels and organ function on starting medication as occasionally we find that other diseases can become ‘unmasked’ such as kidney disease on starting medication. The blood tests will also enable us to monitor for any side-effects of the medication such as low cell counts and liver problems.The length of time your cat will live for after diagnosis largely depends on the underlying cause of the disease and how well the disease is controlled. If not fully controlled, the disease can go on to cause other illness such as heart disease and hence it is important that we recheck your cat on a regular basis. Once your cat’s condition is stable we would recommend a re-visit and repeat blood tests every 3 months.center6243955The Swanbridge Veterinary Group, Tranby Lane, Swanland, HU143NG. Tel: 01482 633888, Fax: 01482 634 576, Email: info@ ................
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