Hyperthyroidism in Cats
by L Johnson
mysite.verizon.net
Posted May 2nd 2007,
Read 130 times since then. Similar ArticlesHypothyroidism Treatments The prevailing diagnostic test for diagnosing hypothyroidism is the blood test in which thyroxine (T4) and Thyroxine Stimulating Hormone (TSH) are measured. Most thyroid specialists rely solely on blood tests that other endocrinologists find erratic. These doctors view blood testing as an accessory to diagnosis, not the sole and impeccable basis… Hyperthyroidism Treatment Options Hyperthyroidism (also known an overactive thyroid) occurs when the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormones. This causes many of the body's functions to speed up. About 2 in 100 women, and 2 in 1000 men, develop hyperthyroidism at some stage of their life. Treatment of Overactive Thyroid Three forms of treatment are available for… Hypothyroidism and Weight Loss Are you the type of person who does everything he or she is supposed to do in terms of weight loss, but can't seem to shed the pounds? Do you eat right, exercise regularly, and do your best to take care of yourself, yet others lose weight doing the same things while you do not? While one should not stop the healthy habits, regardless of result, it… Hypothyroidism and Menieres Disease Hypothyroidism is a disease caused by the inability of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormones. Severity of this disease varies from case to case and oftentimes, the milder symptoms can be misdiagnosed as a different disease. Extreme cases of hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema. Cases of this disease are often found in women after… Hypothyroid Diet Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) can remain undetected for years. People commonly have the symptoms of hypothyroidism even though their blood tests indicate that their thyroid function is ‘normal’. This is because standard pathology tests for thyroid function can have difficulty detecting ‘sub clinical’ cases of hypothyroidism. The most… Veterinarians tell us that hyperthyroidism is very common type of hormonal disorder seen in older cats, and even some middle aged cats. This occurs when the thyroid glands began producing large amounts of thyroid hormones. Often this happens as a result of a benign thyroid tumor (adenoma); however, vets do not know what causes the tumor to develop in cats.
For informational purposes, thyroid glands are paired glands located in the neck and they secrete thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is important because it controls metabolic rate of an animal. Cats with hyperthyroidism have an increased metabolic rate, and thus they tend to use up excessive amounts of energy within their bodies. This means that your cat may be eating more and always hungry, but still seems to be losing weight. This is one of the most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. Some other signs may include a patchy hair coat and hyperactivity. The onset of this disease is usually very slow, and signs are usually not recognized until they are severe. Sometimes, the hyperthyroid state can exist for months to years before becoming severe enough for the owner to recognize the clinical signs.
Many times, a veterinarian can feel a nodule in your cat's neck where the thyroid gland is located. This is usually indicates your cat has hyperthyroidism. The diagnosis can be confirmed by testing the T4 (thyroid hormone) levels in your cat's blood.
If your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, there are treatment options: There is medical treatment, surgical removal of the thyroid, or radioactive iodine treatments.
With medical management, this consists of the administration of anti-thyroid hormone drugs. However, this will not cure the disease but will provide for long term control of the disorder. These drugs will probably have to be administered twice daily for the rest of your cat's life.
With surgical thyroidectomy, this involves the removal of the affected parts of the thyroid glands, and this can result in a permanent cure--but there can be complications. As with any surgery, there is always a risk with anesthesia. Hyperthyroidism can recur if some of the remaining thyroid tissue becomes hyperactive. A common secondary complication of surgery is accidental removal of part or all of the parathyroid glands which are small glands sitting next to the thyroid glands; and this results in a hypoparathyroid state. This can result in transient hypocalcemia that may need to be treated for a few weeks or months.
Radioactive iodine is the last treatment option. This works because the thyroid gland takes up the iodine whereas no other body tissue does this; and the iodine kills all of the affected thyroid tissue. All other body tissues are spared and this can be a cure as it does not have any major side effects for the cat. Not, however, this must be performed in a facility licensed to handle radioactive substances. A university teaching hospital is a common place to perform this. Also, an extended hospital stay for your cat is usually required. Most of the excess radioactive iodine is eliminated in the cat's urine. The cat is kept in isolation until most of the radioactivity has been eliminated. Similar ArticlesCause of Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism stems from any single cause or a combination of several causes like complications of thyroid gland diseases and autoimmune disorders, exposure to medical treatments, or afflicted brain activities. 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