Can you explain how thryoid issues show themselves in cats? I have a thyroid issue, and a cat, and I am interested to see what sort of differences there might be. And so that I know what to look for, should it appear.
Cats typically develop hyperthyroidism, where for whatever reason their bodies produce too much thyroid hormone. This thyroid hormone excess results in an accelerated metabolism and may present with any or all of the following symptoms:
Ravenous appetite
Weight loss, despite eating huge amounts of food
Irritability
Hyperreactivity
high blood pressure
sudden onset blindness
secondary heart disease
poor grooming
rapid heart rate
gastrointestinal disturbances
These cats can present reasonably well, but skinny, or may not be diagnosed until very late in the disease process because owners assumed that they must be fine because they’re still eating.
Cats with hyperthyroidism are often described as being difficult to handle or aggressive. This could also be a symptom, because if you have a high heart rate all the time your brain tries to interpret that as excited/angry/fearful about something, and misinterpretations of the situation can occur.
Feline hyperthyroidism can be treated with oral medication, trans-dermal medication (absorbed across the skin) or with radioactive iodine, which is nearly permanent. You’d expect three years remission with radioactive iodine, but some cats will occasionally live long enough (7 years plus) to require re-treatment.
Hypothyroidism, where there is not enough thyroid hormone being produced, is very rare in cats and typically occurs after over-treatment.
Surgery used to be an option, but it is a difficult surgery to do surrounded by enormous thumping blood vessels of the neck and has been largely replaced by use of radioactive iodine.
