Articles

My Cat has been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism! Part 1

Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) is one of the most common conditions of the older cat and the most common hormonal disease - 12% of cats over nine are diagnosed each year. The condition is increasing in frequency due to better diagnosis, cats living longer and almost certainly due to changing environmental factors. It is not preventable and a short delay in recognising the symptoms is not likely to change the response to treatment, and many cats can be cured of their clinical signs long term. It is not a painful condition although some of the symptoms may be distressing for the cat e.g. breathlessness and anxiety.

Your cat’s thyroid gland has two halves and sits in the middle of the neck just below the larynx and it produces thyroid hormones responsible for growth, development and maintenance of normal metabolic activity; some cats, however, have more thyroid tissue, called ectopic tissue, under the tongue and in the chest cavity and this can be responsible for a poor response to surgical treatment options. Two hormones are produced: T3 & T4, and they affect most body cells by increasing metabolic rate, the strength and number of heart beats, blood pressure, bowel movement leading to diarrhoea and vomiting and causing hyperactivity and restlessness. They reduce body weight, sleep time and affect body temperature control.  Iodine is absorbed from food and taken up by the thyroid gland to make these hormones which are released into the bloodstream. The process is tightly controlled by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus but in affected cats the thyroid gland ignores this control mechanism.

The common signs you may see are weight loss with increased appetite, restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, diarrhoea and vomiting, increased thirst and urination, matted and greasy fur. Less commonly breathlessness, weakness, depression, voice changes, variable appetite and seeking cool places to sleep; these cases are known as “apathetic” and are often associated with severe heart disease as a result of hyperthyroidism.  If your cat is showing any of these signs visit your vet and he/she will advise how to diagnose the condition and check for any concurrent problems.

Next time I will discuss the various treatment options including a new dietary way to control the condition that may avoid surgery or the use of tablets.

The Lake View Veterinary Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 7pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 12.30pm. To book an appointment or for more information on any of the services available, please contact the reception on the details below.

Lake View Veterinary Centre
Top Close, Thrapston, NN14 4PQ
Tel: 01832 732621
www.lakeviewvetcentre.co.uk