Diagnosis For Hyperthyroidism In Cats

Heart disease vomiting diarrhea anorexia anesthesia hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats and mostly afflicts cats middle aged and older.

Diagnosis for hyperthyroidism in cats.

Unfortunately with hyperthyroidism comes a host of concurrent diseases such as thyrotoxic heart disease high blood pressure chronic kidney disease medically induced hypothyroidism and urinary tract infections. Cats suffering from both diseases may need treatment for both and the diagnosis of kidney disease in a cat with hyperthyroidism can affect the cat s prognosis. It is now the most common endocrine disorder in cats and has a significant impact on the morbidity of older cats. Hyperthyroidism also known as hyperthyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges and starts producing excess amounts of thyroid hormone thyrotoxicosis in cats thyrotoxicosis is usually caused by a benign tumor on one or both thyroid glands.

Although thyroid tumors can be cancerous the chances are less than 5 percent in cats. In cats hyperthyroidism was not documented until 1979. Cat owners need to be aware of these side effects but dr. In the vast majority of cases a definitive diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is based on a simple blood test that shows elevated t 4 levels in the bloodstream.

Suggested articles hypertension chronic kidney disease diagnosis. Unfortunately since its discovery there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in cats. Hyperthyroid cats may have normal findings on the cbc and urinalysis but the chemistry panel often shows elevation of several liver enzymes.