What is the life expectancy of a cat with hyperthyroidism?
The median survival times reported are 25 (iodine 131 treatment),1 24 (radioiodine treatment),2 and 48 months (iodine 131 treatment),3 with a more recent paper citing 14 months (carbimazole or methimazole treatment alone or in combination with thyroidectomy).
What are the symptoms of a cat with thyroid problems?
Top Four Signs of Feline Hyperthyroidism to Look For
- Excessive thirst and increased urination. This is a common feline hyperthyroidism symptom, occurring in approximately one half of all cats diagnosed with feline hyperthyroidism.
- Increased appetite and weight loss.
- Anxiety.
- Changes in coat.
What is the best food to feed a cat with hyperthyroidism?
It is best to feed: Canned or raw diets, that contain little to no fruits, vegetables, or grains. Any canned cat food is better than any dry, which contains too much carbohydrate and plant-based protein.
How can I fatten up my cat with hyperthyroidism?
Canned foods are generally the best choice when seeking to provide a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. Dry foods tend to be energy (read calorie) dense. Also, because starch is necessary to make the kibble, dry foods tend to have greater carbohydrate concentrations (carbohydrate > 25% on a dry-matter basis).
What happens if hyperthyroidism is left untreated in cats?
Feline hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in older cats, caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormone. Left untreated, hyperthyroidism can result in heart failure and other complications, and can even lead to death.
What is the best food for a cat with hyperthyroidism?
What causes overactive thyroid 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. In most cases, enlargement of thyroid glands is caused by a non-cancerous tumor called an adenoma.
What should a hyperthyroid cat not eat?
IMPORTANT: Cats who are being treated for hyperthyroidism with an iodine-restricted diet CANNOT be fed anything other than their prescription food. This means absolutely no treats, no people food, and no scavenging or hunting.
Is tuna bad for cats with hyperthyroidism?
Be sure your canned tuna is made with 100% fish and packed with water, not oil. Artificial flavors have ties to causing hyperthyroidism in cats.
How does a cat feel with hyperthyroidism?
The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. The coat of affected cats may appear unkempt, matted, or greasy (see Figure 1).
Why do so many cats develop hyperthyroidism?
Environmental risk factors have been investigated and may predispose some cats to hyperthyroidism, although the specific mechanisms are not known. Exposure to high levels of dietary iodine may cause susceptible cats to develop hyperthyroidism.
What natural remedies can help hyperthyroid cat?
Natural Treatment for Hyperthyroidism in Cats The Benefits of a Raw Diet. Eliminate canned and dry pet food, if possible. Herbal Thyroid Support. The first thing I would do if my kitty had this condition is get her on a raw food diet, give her herbal thyroid support, and Vitamins and Supplements. Environment, Chemicals, and Thyroid Problems.
Do hyperthyroid cats always need a thyroid scan?
Thyroid scintigraphy should always be done in hyperthyroid cats when a thyroid tumor is not palpable, especially in cats with severe or long-standing hyperthyroidism. In many of these cats the thyroid tumor has fallen into the chest.
What are the effects of untreated thyroid disease in cats?
If hyperthyroidism in cats is left untreated, it can cause serious problems and even be fatal. For instance, thyroid hormones cause the heart to beat faster and contract more strongly. Over time, this can impair the normal functioning of the heart and trigger cardiac arrest.
