Hyperthyroidism in cats - Symptoms and treatments

Feline hyperthyroidism is one of those diseases that , in most cases, manages to go unnoticed, manifesting only when the cat's health is severely compromised.

This is a very common pathology, especially in cats that have exceeded 7 years of age In itself it is not fatal, but it involves complications that put the life of the cat at risk, by attacking several of its vital organs.That is why Animals and Pets Online presents this article on feline hyperthyroidism, symptoms and treatment .Keep reading!

What is feline hyperthyroidism?

It is a disease that has documentation only since 1970.It is common in elderly cats , especially in those over 10 years, being more frequent in the Siamese race.

It consists of an alteration of the organism due to the overproduction of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).Detected in time, there are high probabilities of control and improvement, but otherwise, the complications that accompany this excessive secretion of the hormone are deadly for the cat.

Causes of feline hyperthyroidism

The main cause of hyperthyroidism is the increase in thyroid hormone production , both T3 and T4.This increase is due, in most cases, to a disorder caused by a disease related to the thyroid lobes .

The cause is because, as the size of the lobes grows, as a result of the disease, the hormone begins to secrete larger amounts , affecting the balance of the whole organism.

Approximately 10% of the felines affected the disease is caused by the presence of a carcinoma (carcinogenic mass), in which case the prognosis for improvement is reduced.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism in cats

One of the problems of hyperthyroidism is that, in most cases, there are no clear signs of disease , these begin to occur when the pathology has already advanced.that it is necessary to remain attentive to any abnormality in the behavior and the habits of your feline, to detect this or any other ailment in time.

Usually , the cat's owner realizes that something is wrong when he notices that his partner eats the same or greater amounts of food, but shows an obvious weight loss .

This It is accompanied by other alarming signs , such as:

Chronic diarrhea
Depression
Hyperactivity
Nervous or arch behavior
Frequent vomiting
Inability to jump
Loss of strength
Neglected and knotted mantle
Arrhythmia
Dyspnea
Disorientation
A gresividad
Unusual nocturnal vocalizations

These symptoms do not appear suddenly or appear all together, rather they are shown in a progressive way, so if it is neglected, they may be overlooked.

By increasing the secretion of the thyroid, renal function is directly affected, so a renal failure is the greatest danger, putting the cat's life at risk.

How is the diagnosis made?

In principle, the size transformation suffered by thyroid lobes is usually noticeable with just palpating the cat's neck .This, of course, will not be enough to give a definitive diagnosis.of hyperthyroidism, nor the absence of this sign will mean that the feline does not suffer from the disease.

To be sure, various medical tests are necessary.The most important of all is a full blood test , in which you can appreciate not only the condition of the white blood cells and the health of the feline in general, but also the levels of liver enzymes (essential for detecting a kidney problem).

In addition to this, a electrocardiogram is recommended to assess the possibility of a heart problem, such as arrhythmia and tachycardia.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats

When the results of the studies show a positive for feline hyperthyroidism, there are 3 types of treatments recommended.The choice of each depends not only on your country of residence, as one of them is not available worldwide, but also of the age, weight and health status of the cat, as well as the possibility of hepatic or cardiac complications:

The first option is administer antiroid drugs , a treatment that should be applied for life.The option is not curative, since it does not eliminate the origin of the problem, but it keeps the levels of thyroid hormone stable.It is possible that there are side effects, so They recommend veterinary check-ups every 3 months to review the dose and adjust it if necessary.The second option is a thyroidectomy , which is nothing more than the removal of the thyroid.This measure usually eradicates a large part of the problem, although you exist The risk of mortality is quite high.A therapy with active ingredients is usually applied and then surgery is used, because that way the lethality of the treatment is reduced.This solution should not be chosen if the cat suffers from liver disease or diabetes.The last possibility is the application of a treatment using radioactive iodine , which is considered the best option.However, it is not available in all countries, as there are no nuclear medicine centers to pets.

Radioactive iodine removes abnormally grown tissue, leaving the thyroid gland intact, and reducing hormone secretion levels.Treatment is given subcutaneously and does not represent any risk ; In addition, less than 10% of patients require a second dose, so it is highly effective.

There are pros and cons of applying each of these treatments, consulting with your veterinarian can find the most suitable option for the cat.

This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that he presents 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 section on Other health problems.

Comments

How to know what size a mongrel dog will be?

When we talk about a mixed breed dog or mixed breed dog , generally we refer to a dog whose ancestry is unknown and that has typical characteristics of two or more breeds.This is usually the result of a non-selective breeding, but generally fortunate, since a mongrel dog can be exactly as good companion as a dog of a certain breed. Due to numerous factors, although here it is worth highlighting the great genetic variability, there are many advantages of having a mongrel dog and it is important to emphasize this point since unfortunately it is usually grant a lower value to a dog of these characteristics.If you are thinking of adopting a mixed breed dog, you are surely gathering all the necessary information, if you are wondering how to know what size a mongrel dog will be I didn't leave It is to read this article of Animals and Pets Online. Is it possible to know the size of a mongrel dog? Of course, estimating the exact size of a mongrel dog is not an easy task, although ...

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

The equine colic is the first cause of mortality in horses and many horse owners have to face it once since it is the most frequent disease of the adult horse.Colic syndrome is defined as a abdominal pain of varied origins . The horse is a hypersensitive animal and the external manifestations of the colic can be impressive.Some specificities of the horse can complicate the situation: a horse cannot vomit, so that the food that has reached the stomach is forced to follow its path in the digestive tract.In addition, certain parasites such as strongils cause a narrowing of the arteries of the digestive system, which can make the condition worse. Fortunately less than 10% of horses with colic require surgery.case colic syndrome is a of the most important equine pathologies for their severity and frequency, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you everything you need to know about the colic in horses . Symptoms of colic on the horse Colic or colic syndrome is...

Kodiak bear: features and photos

The Kodiak bear ( Ursus arctos middendorffi ), also known as the Alaskan giant bear, is a subspecies of brown bear native to the island of Kodiak and other coastal towns in southern Alaska.These mammals highlight their immense size and remarkable robustness, being one of the mammals The world's largest terrestrial, next to the polar bear. If you want to know more about this giant mammal, we invite you to continue reading this Animals and Pets Online sheet, in which we will tell you about the origin, the feeding and reproduction of the Kodiak bear. Origin of the kodiak bear As we have already told you, the kodiak bear is a subspecies of the brown bear ( Ursus arctos ), a species of the family Ursidae that lives in Eurasia and North America and has more than 16 subspecies recognized today.Specifically, kodiak bears are native to southern Alaska and underlying regions, such as the island of Kodiak. Originally, the kodiak bear was described as a new species of be...

Can I bathe my dog if I just wormed him?

When is it a first time in adopting a dog, it is normal that many doubts arise about what is best for them and when it is advisable to do everything, so Animals and Pets Online solves all the questions that arise. Deworming your dog periodically is necessary to preserve their health and avoid possible diseases from the action of microorganisms, external and internal parasites, among others.If you do not know when you should bathe your dog after a deworming , keep reading this article. Why deworm the dog? You may think that deworming is not necessary, but the truth is that thanks to it you avoid your dog much discomfort, in addition to prevent diseases transmitted by parasites . Among the main parasites, both external and internal, are ticks, fleas, lice, losacaros and intestinal worms, among many others.Pruritus, hair loss, diarrhea, tick disease, and even death in the most serious cases, they are part of the consequences that cause these beings to stay in the body of your furr...

Why do cats make a lot of noise when they mate?

If you have seen the mating of two wise cats that do a lot of noise.The truth is that the meows begin when the cats enter into heat, to attract the attention of the males .They also respond with meows and so the procession begins. But it is during the copula that the screams are more obvious and scandalous.Many people wonder why do cats make a lot of noise when they mate? In Animal Expert we will answer your question, you will be surprised. Sexual maturity and zeal Females reach sexual maturity between 5 and 9 months of age.Males, meanwhile, somewhat later, between 9 and 12 months .It is quite evident when cats are in heat.In addition to the characteristic meowing, there are many other signs that a cat is in heat, such as licking, tail lifting, etc. The heat in cats has an average of 5 to 7 days and is repeated once a month .This interval will depend on whether the cat has crossed or not with a male during the heat Other factors that may intervene are the season of the a...

Argentine dog breeds

The International Cinological Federation (FCI) is the body responsible for standardizing canine breeds in 10 groups With different sections each, obviously in addition to those dogs that correspond to a specific breed, there are many more that are mestizos. Unfortunately in this article we will see how some breeds previously recognized by the FCI have become extinct but We will also know other breeds that we can still enjoy and that are native to the American continent, specifically Argentina. Discover in this article of Animals and Pets Online what are the Argentine dog breeds . Argentine polar dog This breed was the fruit of the crossing between Siberian Husky, Greenland, Alaskan Malamute and Spitz Manchuriano, unfortunately it became extinct in 1994, when it had to move from region to meet the Antarctic Treaty of Environmental Protection. The Argentine polar dog was developed by the Argentine army, which conceived it as a sled dog for its antarctic bases, was a breed ...

Why is the AJOLOTE in danger of extinction?

The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) is a kind of amphibian that lives in several regions of Mexico , especially in the Xochimilco canal system, characterized by its ability to regenerate certain parts of the body and its peculiar appearance.The species can live in captivity for 30 years, as long as it receives the indicated care. Despite being one of the animals of great influence in Mexican culture, the species is critically endangered.In the following article of Animals and Pets Online, we will tell you the reasons that explain why the axolotl is in danger of extinction and we will show you possible solutions to improve its conservation status. Axolotl characteristics The axolotl is known as "the walking fish".It is a vertebrate that reaches 23 centimeters long , has a broad head and rounded eyes , small and without eyelids.The skin tone varies, most of the time the specimens have dark brown tones with a black back and a lighter belly, in addition to having da...

Ban a ferret step by step

Although ferrets are clean animals by nature, sometimes they can get dirty a lot, so much that they need to take a bath. If you do not know the necessary materials or the steps you must follow, you have entered the right place, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we explain how to swim to a ferret step step by step , with useful tips throughout the process. Do not forget to comment and share your tricks at the end of the article, surely many other users will thank you. Steps to follow: 1 To begin with, you should know that you should not overdo the ferret .These small mammals have a layer of natural protection on their skin and too frequent washing can damage their dermis.At least Let one month pass between washing and washing . You can prevent it from getting too dirty by brushing it regularly and using wet wipes to remove small details of dirt.A too frequent washing also accentuates the bad smell of the ferret. 2 Using the right materials is essential, for ...

Differences between a Persian cat and an angora

Although both breeds are known and popular, for some lovers of cats the differences between a Persian cat and an angora are not entirely clear, perhaps because they both have a spectacular long coat, but the differences between both races are remarkable and, if we want to adopt any of these cats, it is important that we have them in order for our new cat to adapt as well as possible to our home. This is why in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will expose the differences between a Persian cat and an angora .If you intend to adopt any of these cats, this article of Persian cat vs Angora is essential! Physical differences between Persian and Angora cats We begin this review of the differences between a Persian cat and an angora for the most obvious, that is, those that refer to physical aspects.These are going to be the following: The nose: it is, perhaps, the most important and significant, in addition, at first glance it will allow us to differentiate a Persian cat a...

Most common diseases of the Persian cat

The Persian cat is one of the oldest and most desired breeds known.to its peculiar physical constitution the Persian cat suffers from some recurring problems of which we will inform you in this article.This I have just commented does not mean that Persian cats are sickly, since if the needs that their precise morphology are properly addressed they do not usually have problems. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will inform you of the most common diseases of the Persian cat , so that you learn to prevent them. Take note of them and Do not forget to visit the veterinarian on a regular basis to ensure that your cat's health is in perfect condition. Tricobezoares Persian cats are the feline breed whose hair is longer and denser, so they are more prone to suffering tricobezoars than other cats with shorter hair. Tricobezoars are hairballs that form in the stomach and digestive tract of the cat.Cats usually regurgitate hairballs, but sometimes they accumulate in t...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog