All About Hyperthyroidism In Felines
Cats develop hyperthyroidism when one of their thyroid glands start producing too many hormones. It’s relatively common for cats to experience this disease, especially the middle-aged to older ones. If your cat isn’t treated in time, it can lead to heart failure and death. Keep reading to learn all about feline hyperthyroidism.
Causes
The most common cause of this condition is development of adenomas in the thyroid gland. Adenomas are groups of benign, or non-cancerous cells. This condition can also be caused by cancerous cells growing in the thyroid gland. However, this is a very rare situation. If your cat is suffering from this disease, he will exhibit few common symptoms.
Signs
Your cat’s thyroid gland controls his metabolic rate. If the thyroid gland malfunctions, cats start to eat and drink more than they normally do. However, he will also begin to lose weight very fast. Most cats also become much more active.
Hyperthyroidism in cats can also affect the gastrointestinal system. It’s common for cats to experience vomiting and diarrhea if it is affected. Problems with the heart are also common. They include increased heart rate, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure.
Diagnosis
The veterinarian will need a blood sample to diagnose this condition accurately. The level of thyroid hormone in the blood will be measured. The vet may have a hard time diagnosing this disease since the level of thyroid hormone can vary over time. The vet may also palpate the thyroid gland to see if its enlarged.
Treatment
If diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, your cat will have three treatment options. Drugs, surgery, and radioactive iodine are these methods of treatment. If your cat is given radioactive iodine, it will destroy all thyroid tissue in his body. This is the most effective method of treatment but also the most expensive.
Surgery involves removing one or both of the thyroid glands. Surgery is also a treatment method. However, it may not relieve the condition completely since it usually won’t remove all thyroid tissue in the body. Your cat can also take anti-thyroid medication. It will need to be taken each day for the rest of his life. The symptoms will quickly reappear is the medication is ever discontinued.
All owners should know a little something about diseases in cats. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at cat-illnesses.com. Click over right now.
Read important suggestions in the sphere of house train dog - this is your own knowledge base.