Hyperthyroidism in Cats - Is Your Feline Turning Into A Lion?

What does hyperthyroidism in cats mean ?

This cat illness is caused by a surplus of thyroid hormone circulating in the body due to an overactive thyroid gland. The gland usually starts to develop a benign growth or tumor, goitre, and produces too much of this hormone.

Signs of Feline Hyperthyroidism

Restlessness Hungry all the time Increased water consumption Vocalising a lot Weight loss Weakness Wasting muscles Diarrhoea Increased heart and respiratory rates Heart problems

This surplus is bad, because it 'fires up' the metabolism of hyperthyroid cats.

This means your pet is becoming overactive and very restless.

Food is digested and metabolized a lot faster than normally, so cats suffering from this disease are always wanting something to eat. Day and night.

Usually a chronic diarrhoea is present, which can become a hygienic problem in cats that are kept indoors only.

Your cat will most likely change her behaviour: getting up at unusual times, being overactive, vocalising a lot and demanding more and more food.

Some of these signs can become very annoying, especially if you have to get up at night and feed your cat.

Despite of eating a lot, she will constantly lose weight and muscle mass.

Hyperthyroidism in cats causes an increase of the heart and respiratory rates. A normal heart rate is around 180 beat per minute in a healthy adult feline, but cats with this health problem may have a heart rate of about 280 beat per minute and more.

This constant 'overdrive' of the heart causes a thickening of the heart muscle and development of a heart murmur.

If hyperthyroidism in cats is not being treated effectively, felines suffering from this problem may easily develop a congestive heart failure and die.

Treatment and Control of Hyperthyroid Cats

 

Medication Surgery Radiation Adequate Diet

Medication is initially the treatment of choice. Methimazole is now the only veterinary licensed drug for treatment of feline goitre. Prior to surgery it is useful to control the increased heart rate (tachycardia) with Propanolol.

Removing of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) and radiation with radioactive iodine may be considered, as it is usually curative in cats.

To help your pet to stop constant weight loss and loss of muscle mass, you need to maintain a sufficient energy intake. This may be a fairly difficult task in cats with goitre.

The diet needs to be highly digestible and, in addition, very energy-dense. Best is to feed a prescription diet especially designed for cats with a hyperactive thyroid gland.