Diagnosis For Hyperthyroidism In Cats

Also called thyrotoxicosis hyperthyroidism is caused by an increase in production of thyroid hormones known as t3 and t4 from an enlarged thyroid gland in a cat s neck.

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. It is now the most common endocrine disorder in cats and has a significant impact on the morbidity of older cats. 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. Heart disease vomiting diarrhea anorexia anesthesia hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats and mostly afflicts cats middle aged and older.

Hyperthyroid cats may have normal findings on the cbc and urinalysis but the chemistry panel often shows elevation of several liver enzymes. Treatment for hyperthyroid cats the gold standard therapy is radioiodine i 131 treatment which can cure the hyperthyroidism in most cases. In cats hyperthyroidism was not documented until 1979. Although thyroid tumors can be cancerous the chances are less than 5 percent in cats.

Suggested articles hypertension chronic kidney disease diagnosis. Unfortunately since its discovery there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in cats. 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.