There are three common forms of treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats: medication, radioactive iodine therapy and surgery. A serious disease called “feline hyperthyroidism” has risen to epidemic proportions since the first cases were diagnosed in 1979. Hyperthyroidism is a common affliction of senior cats and the most common endocrine disorder in the feline. This has the hallmarks of a newly emerged condition. Feline Hyperthyroidism Felinehyperthyroidismisthemostcommonendocrinedisorderinmiddle-aged andoldercats.Itoccursinabout10percentoffelinepatientsover10yearsofage. It is a worldwide phenomenon, though worse in the U.S. than other countries. Explains The Cause And Treatment of Hyperthyroidism In Cats Schedule cats with end-stage renal disease for regular reevaluation. Hyperthyroidism can cause weight loss despite a good appetite, increased water consumption and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension. Quite simply, no one is certain of the cause. “Hyperthyroidism.”. Check Now: Blue Buffalo • Science Diet • Purina • Wellness • 4health • Canine Carry Outs • Friskies • Taste of the Wild • See 200+ more brands… Diagnosis is made by testing blood thyroid hormone levels. best cat food for hyperthyroidism Theories abound: canned cat food, improper levels of iodine, alien motherships; while the jury is still out, the best one can do is be aware of the signs and seek veterinary care if you suspect this disease. The initial signs of an overactive thyroid gland can be subtle. The prevalence of concurrent kidney disease in cats with hyperthyroidism is estimated to be about 30-35% 1, 2. In the majority of cats, one or both thyroid glands develop a benign enlargement, whereby the glands secrete more and more of the active thyroid hormone - the hormone responsible for your metabolic rate. “Are Fish Flavored Cat Foods Causing Hyperthyroidism?” PetMD. Are you worried your cat has overactive thyroid glands? 94% of cats who develop hyperthyroidism are over 10 years old. It often provides a long-term or permanent cure in most cats. In fact, 95% of cats with hyperthyroid disease are 10 years old or older. If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. Although the cause of feline hyperthyroidism is no… “Managing Hyperthyroidism With Diet in Cats.” Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University. If you decide against treatment, just be sure not let the cat suffer when they develop complications. These include weight loss, increased activity, and “kitten like” behaviour. But it’s worth discussing the costs with your vet, because sometimes the best option for your cat is not the obvious one. This is because the cat’s heart must work harder to match the state of its overactive metabolism. It can even be fatal. Peterson, Mark E., DVM, DACVIM. A cat with untreated hyperthyroidism may stop eating altogether. The faster you get a diagnosis, the faster you can put together a treatment plan and help your cat feel better. A common solution for cats suffering with hyperthyroidism is to surgically remove the affected tissues, an operation which is known as a thyroidectomy. And even as someone who does this for a living, pilling him twice a day is a pain- I get that!- so perhaps in the future you will see me blogging about our own adventures with radioactivity. Involvement of both g… Hyperthyroidism in cats, over time, causes the heart muscle to thicken, resulting in a type of feline cardiomyopathy. Generally, the enlargement of the thyroid and subsequent With time, severe muscle wasting, emaciation, cachexia, and death from starvation can occur if the cat’s hyperthyroidism is left untreated (3-5). There will be another treatment option. November 2016. There are 2 thyroid glands located in the neck. In the late stages of kidney disease, cats have usually had a steady decline with decreased activity, decreased grooming, weight loss from loss of appetite, weakness and loss of muscle mass and maybe some vomiting. Mention hyperthyroidism to most people with cats, and they’ve either had a cat with hyperthyroidism or know of someone who has. Cats have 2 thyroid glands, but in the normal cat they are too small to feel. (If yes, then the “cure” of radioactive iodine is a great solution.). If the disease has been left untreated for a long time, other organs may be affected and there may be complications. If you’re like most people, you didn’t imagine a cat meowing vigorously in your face at midnight and chowing down their food like there’s no tomorrow. 1 in 5 cats gets diagnosed with cancer. Hyperthyroidism is caused by too much thyroid hormone T 4 in the bloodstream. The glands sit on either side of the windpipe, in the mid-neck area. Hyperthyroidism can cause weight loss despite a good appetite, increased water consumption and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension. Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormonal disorder diagnosed in cats. Hyperthyroidism is one of THE MOST common senior cat conditions. Watching your beloved pet suffer more and more may become intolerable. What is late-stage hyperthyroidism in cats? Explains The Cause And Treatment of Hyperthyroidism In Cats Usually, a benign tumor causes the thyroid gland to over-produce thyroid hormones which in turn causes the heart to beat faster. As cats get closer to death the symptoms become much more severe. Strange as it sounds, a single injection of radioactive iodine is extremely effective at targeting just the abnormal cells in the thyroid gland while leaving normal tissue unaffected. “Hyperthyroidism has no cure. Vaccine Information for Dogs, Cats, Puppies and Kittens. “The Role of Surgery in the Treatment of Thyroid Disease in Cats.” VIN. In hyperthyroidism, the cat’s body consumes its own muscle tissue to get the protein it needs to sustain its carnivorous life. Sometimes, cat hyperthyroidism can be caused by a growth on the thyroid gland, either benign or malignant. This gland, which is within a cat's neck region. The condition is most often caused by an excessive concentration of circulating thyroxine, a specific thyroid hormone better known as T4, in the bloodstream. It is very obvious to understand that if a disease is diagnosed at an early stage of causing then it the probability of successful treatment raises. It often provides a long-term or permanent cure in most cats. Unfortunately for senior cats, disease and chronic illnesses are very common. Because he is a good cat and likes to allow me to experience all the fun kitty diseases, he is both severely food allergic and hyperthyroid, giving me plenty to manage. Then after diagnosis, a lucky cat who doesn’t have complications can cope just fine for months or years — albeit getting more and more skinny. In cats, hyperthyroidism was not documented until 1979. My cats hate Hills Science Diet itself, I can get them to eat it if I mix a little Fancy feast in with it. My cats love “cat concoctions”. May 20, 2016. “The Mystery of the Wasting House-Cats.”. I have one cat with hyperthyroidism and another with seizures. All of which makes the one-off cost of around $2,000 for radioactive iodine treatment seem not too bad a deal. Feline hyperthyroidism is a disorder that affects multiple systems in a cat's body. Hyperthyroidism in cats is a relatively new disease, becoming much more prevalent only within the past 40 years. ! I made this website with the purpose of writing everything I know about cats in order to answer all of your cat questions.I am a member of Amazon Affiliate program which means on some pages I will be advertising and linking to Amazon.com where I earn a comission from qualifying purchases. Usually, a benign tumor causes the thyroid gland to over-produce thyroid hormones which in … Jan. 22, 2016. Hyperthyroidism (hyper = too much, thyroid = a hormone-making gland), is seen mostly in older cats age 10 or more. For example, those tiny thyroid pills are expensive. Thank you for this article. Cats with hyperthyroidism often initially experience signs the owners may perceive as positive. Maybe he or she is turning their nose up at food, or vomiting it all up. The good news is, hyperthyroidism is easily diagnosed with a blood test and can be treated a variety of ways. Hyperthyroidism usually happens in older cats, typically in those over 10 years of age. I'm a North Carolina-raised, pet loving enthusiast who has always had a fascination with everything cats. But just as it’s not good to keep revving the car engine, so the body starts to show signs of wear and tear. Hyperthyroidism is a slowly progressive disease. Hyperthyroidism is considered to be the most common endocrine disorder of cats and a disease frequently encountered in small animal practice. It may be helpful to jot down a list, answering the following questions, to guide the vet’s suggestions: Of course, deciding on a treatment can be influenced by cost. Pills come in at around 50 cents to $2 per day, depending on the dose. Left untreated, the disease can lead to life threatening cardiac issues, so it does need to be addressed. Hyperthyroidism is a disease caused by overproduction of thyroxine, a thyroid hormone that increases metabolism in the body.