Hyperthyroidism in Cats
The endocrine system is composed of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate many body processes. The endocrine system of the cat includes the following glands: thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pancreas, gonads (testicles and ovaries), and pituitary.
The thyroid gland is the one which most commonly has problems.
Feline Hyperthyroidism (commonly called "Hyper-T") was unknown until it was first documented by Dr.
Mark E. Peterson in 1979. He was also the first to treat Hyper-T in cats with radioactive iodine (I-131), in 1980, According to Dr. Peterson's website, he was also the first to "document a number of 'new' diseases in cats, including acromegaly, hypoparathyroidism, insulinoma, and Addison's disease." The veterinary community and the world of cat owners owe a huge vote of thanks to this man for his research on behalf of cats.
My 13 year old cat, Jaspurr, shown here as a kitten, and his littermate brother, Joey, are likely alive today because of Dr. Peterson's research. Jaspurr was first diagnosed in 2013, and is currently treated with Methimazole in a liquid form.
Joey (Jaspurr's littermate), had Hyper-T before Jaspurr but was allergic to the Methimazole. The brow area over his eyes became excoriated, then he lost all the hair there. Joey had the I-131 treatment at a veterinary hospital in San Leandro, CA. Because of a then new California law, we had to save all his bodily waste in a closed container until the radiation was reduced to a safe level, then dispose of it with the rest of our household garbage.
I documented the latter in my article, Safe Disposal of Radioactive Cat Waste.
Hypothyroidism in Cats
Hypothyroid disorder in cats is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. In short, not enough thyroid hormone is being dispersed into the cat's blood stream. According to the Merck Manual Pet Health division, there are a few potential causes:
However, in Joey's case, as with many other cats, hypothyroidism was the result of the I-131 treatment he had received for hyperthyroid disorder. Although it was once thought that only five percent of cats were affected this way by I-131, now the accepted factor is closer to thirty percent. Joey is now on a twice-daily dose of .5 ml of tuna flavored Levothyroxine, and seems to be doing quite well with this regimin.
Feline Diabetes
As a Type 2 Diabetic patient, I was terrified when I was first advised that my cat, Billy, has feline diabetes. My first thought was that Billy would require insulin injections for life. However, I found out then that this isn't necessarily the case. Billy also is a T2 diabetic, and so far, his disease has been successfully controlled by diet.
Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, JD writes on her website, "Diabetes in the cat is a man-made disease, which is completely preventable by avoiding the "kitty junk-food" that is dry kibbled cat food."
Therein lies the rub. My cats, like so many other pets in this hustle-bustle world, eat a combination of both dry food and wet food. It is literally impossible to feed one cat a separate diet, so I must compromise somewhat. However, I choose from a variety of low carb foods, both dry and canned. Billy also has IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), so I rotate a variety of limited ingredient foods, dry and canned.
See also these articles on diabetes in cats by our Veterinary Medicine Expert:
Pancreatitis is more commonly found in cats (particularly Siamese Cats) than in dogs, or an other species, according to PetMd. It is also more common in female cats than males, and more common in geriatric cats.
The pancreas, which consists of two lobes, lies within the upper abdominal cavity of the cat. The right lobe lies along the descending part of the duodenum (first segment of the small intestine, and the left lobe lies next to the stomach.
Its function is to produce the enzymes which digest food, and the production of insulin. The latter, of course, explains why a healthy pancreas is essential to preventing and/or controlling feline diabetes.
My Billy, pictured here, has feline diabetes and sometimes shows evidence of pancreatitis in his blood tests. Since he also has hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy, it is critical that his diabetes remain under control.
References:
Structure and Function of the Pancreas in Cats
Inflammation of the Pancreas in Cats
Hepatic Lipidosis, also called Fatty Liver Disease, can be fatal within a few days, if not treated. However, caught early enough, it is fairly easy to reverse. The more radical treatment is for the veterinarian to insert a feeding tube into the esophagus or stomach. The cat's caregiver can then slowly pour a semi-liquid combination of nutrients down the tube.
I opted against the tube when my Shannon (pictured here) was diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease.
I had a formula of canned Hills A/D, mixed with low sodium chicken broth, and augmented with a vitamin-mineral supplement which came in a tube. I also added small amounts of canned pumpkin, which Shannon particularly enjoyed. To feed him, I used a large plastic syringe - the kind we use to baste roasting turkey.
The critical part is to place the syringe in the corner of the cat's mouth, so he doesn't aspirate the mushy mixture, and to proceed very slowly, giving the cat time to swallow. This process worked quite well for Shannon, and he was back to eating normally within a few days. I gave him the same mixture in a bowl, then gradually re-introduced his normal canned food over the period of a week.
The secret to this quick cure is to recognize the symptoms quickly, and seek your veterinarian's help without delay. For more information on Hepatic Lipidosis, see my article, Fatty Liver Disease in Cats.
The endocrine system is composed of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate many body processes. The endocrine system of the cat includes the following glands: thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pancreas, gonads (testicles and ovaries), and pituitary.
The thyroid gland is the one which most commonly has problems.
Feline Hyperthyroidism (commonly called "Hyper-T") was unknown until it was first documented by Dr.
Mark E. Peterson in 1979. He was also the first to treat Hyper-T in cats with radioactive iodine (I-131), in 1980, According to Dr. Peterson's website, he was also the first to "document a number of 'new' diseases in cats, including acromegaly, hypoparathyroidism, insulinoma, and Addison's disease." The veterinary community and the world of cat owners owe a huge vote of thanks to this man for his research on behalf of cats.
My 13 year old cat, Jaspurr, shown here as a kitten, and his littermate brother, Joey, are likely alive today because of Dr. Peterson's research. Jaspurr was first diagnosed in 2013, and is currently treated with Methimazole in a liquid form.
Joey (Jaspurr's littermate), had Hyper-T before Jaspurr but was allergic to the Methimazole. The brow area over his eyes became excoriated, then he lost all the hair there. Joey had the I-131 treatment at a veterinary hospital in San Leandro, CA. Because of a then new California law, we had to save all his bodily waste in a closed container until the radiation was reduced to a safe level, then dispose of it with the rest of our household garbage.
I documented the latter in my article, Safe Disposal of Radioactive Cat Waste.
Hypothyroidism in Cats
Hypothyroid disorder in cats is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. In short, not enough thyroid hormone is being dispersed into the cat's blood stream. According to the Merck Manual Pet Health division, there are a few potential causes:
- A malfunction of the pituitary gland which then fails to release enough hormone to stimulate the thyroid glands to release their hormones
- "Endocrine tissue can be destroyed by an autoimmune process, in which the body incorrectly identifies some of its own tissue as foreign and destroys the tissue cells."
However, in Joey's case, as with many other cats, hypothyroidism was the result of the I-131 treatment he had received for hyperthyroid disorder. Although it was once thought that only five percent of cats were affected this way by I-131, now the accepted factor is closer to thirty percent. Joey is now on a twice-daily dose of .5 ml of tuna flavored Levothyroxine, and seems to be doing quite well with this regimin.
Feline Diabetes
As a Type 2 Diabetic patient, I was terrified when I was first advised that my cat, Billy, has feline diabetes. My first thought was that Billy would require insulin injections for life. However, I found out then that this isn't necessarily the case. Billy also is a T2 diabetic, and so far, his disease has been successfully controlled by diet.
Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, JD writes on her website, "Diabetes in the cat is a man-made disease, which is completely preventable by avoiding the "kitty junk-food" that is dry kibbled cat food."
Therein lies the rub. My cats, like so many other pets in this hustle-bustle world, eat a combination of both dry food and wet food. It is literally impossible to feed one cat a separate diet, so I must compromise somewhat. However, I choose from a variety of low carb foods, both dry and canned. Billy also has IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), so I rotate a variety of limited ingredient foods, dry and canned.
See also these articles on diabetes in cats by our Veterinary Medicine Expert:
- Diabetes Mellitus in Cats
- Cat Diabetes Insulin Injection Treatment Options
- Can Feline Diabetes Be Cured
Pancreatitis is more commonly found in cats (particularly Siamese Cats) than in dogs, or an other species, according to PetMd. It is also more common in female cats than males, and more common in geriatric cats.
The pancreas, which consists of two lobes, lies within the upper abdominal cavity of the cat. The right lobe lies along the descending part of the duodenum (first segment of the small intestine, and the left lobe lies next to the stomach.
Its function is to produce the enzymes which digest food, and the production of insulin. The latter, of course, explains why a healthy pancreas is essential to preventing and/or controlling feline diabetes.
My Billy, pictured here, has feline diabetes and sometimes shows evidence of pancreatitis in his blood tests. Since he also has hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy, it is critical that his diabetes remain under control.
References:
Structure and Function of the Pancreas in Cats
Inflammation of the Pancreas in Cats
Hepatic Lipidosis, also called Fatty Liver Disease, can be fatal within a few days, if not treated. However, caught early enough, it is fairly easy to reverse. The more radical treatment is for the veterinarian to insert a feeding tube into the esophagus or stomach. The cat's caregiver can then slowly pour a semi-liquid combination of nutrients down the tube.
I opted against the tube when my Shannon (pictured here) was diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease.
I had a formula of canned Hills A/D, mixed with low sodium chicken broth, and augmented with a vitamin-mineral supplement which came in a tube. I also added small amounts of canned pumpkin, which Shannon particularly enjoyed. To feed him, I used a large plastic syringe - the kind we use to baste roasting turkey.
The critical part is to place the syringe in the corner of the cat's mouth, so he doesn't aspirate the mushy mixture, and to proceed very slowly, giving the cat time to swallow. This process worked quite well for Shannon, and he was back to eating normally within a few days. I gave him the same mixture in a bowl, then gradually re-introduced his normal canned food over the period of a week.
The secret to this quick cure is to recognize the symptoms quickly, and seek your veterinarian's help without delay. For more information on Hepatic Lipidosis, see my article, Fatty Liver Disease in Cats.
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