An Owner’s Guide To Hyperthyroidism In Cats
When the thyroid gland becomes overactive, your cat develops a condition known as hyperthyroidism. This endocrine disease is relatively common, especially in middle-aged to older cats. If left untreated, this condition can lead to heart failure and death. So, what exactly causes this disease in cats?
Causes
This feline disease commonly develops when adenomas develop in the thyroid gland. Adenomas are groups of benign, or non-cancerous cells. Cancerous cells can also cause this condition. However, this is a very rare situation. Cats with this condition display a wide range of symptoms.
Symptoms
Your cat’s metabolic rate is controlled by the thyroid glands. Your cat will start eating and drinking more than normal when the glands start malfunctioning. However, he will also begin to lose weight very fast. Most cats also become much more active.
This condition can also affect the gastrointestinal system. Vomiting and diarrhea will likely develop. If and when it affects the heart, it can cause congestive heart failure, increased heart rate, and arrhythmias.
Diagnosis
Your vet will need to examine a blood sample to diagnose this condition for sure. The sample will help determine the level of thyroid hormone in the blood. One problem diagnosing this disease is that the level of thyroid hormone can vary a lot over time. Another clue that can lead to diagnose is the appearance of an enlarged thyroid gland which the vet can be able to feel.
Treatment
There are three methods used to treat this condition. These methods of treatment include radioactive iodine, surgery, and drugs. Radioactive iodine destroys all thyroid tissue in the body. This is the most effective method of treatment. However, it is also the most costly.
Another treatment method for hyperthyroidism is surgery. During surgery, either one or both of the thyroid glands will be removed. Unfortunately, surgery isn’t always effective. There will still be thyroid tissue in other areas of the body that surgery won’t be able to remove.
Anti-thyroid medication is the last treatment method. This type of medication needs to be taken once or twice everyday for the rest of your cat’s life. If the medication is ever discontinued for any reason, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism will return very quickly.
This is everything you need to know about hyperthyroidism. This condition should never be left untreated. In addition to affecting the [spin]gastrointestinal system, it can also affect the heart. It can effectively be controlled using anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine. Surgery may also be an option in some cases, although it’s not as effective as other methods of treatment.
There are many more conditions that can affect your precious kitty such as allergies in felines. Fortunately, cat-illnesses.com provides all the information you need to learn about a wide range of these conditions. So, stop by today!
Find useful experiences about house training dogs - your personal knowledge pack.
