This sign is best assessed via body condition scoring, which must be evaluated along with body weight. In the earlier stages of disease, weight loss results mainly from catabolic muscle wasting rather than decreased fat stores. The combination of illnesses causes clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, dehydration, and weakness, making it challenging to differentiate hyperthyroidism from other feline illnesses (see “Clinical signs of hyperthyroidism”). These cats typically have concurrent diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, heart, or kidney. Neuromuscular signs: seizures, tremors, cervical ventroflexionĬats with apathetic hyperthyroidism make up a minority (Cardiorespiratory signs: tachypnea, dyspnea, coughing.Haircoat and skin changes: alopecia, dry or greasy seborrhea, thinning skin.Gastrointestinal signs: vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia. Clinical signs may be vague, mild, or absent in cases with significant concurrent illness, signs may resemble other disease processes. Increased appetite and activity level can be misinterpreted as signs of well-being. Whether caused by multinodular adenomatous goiter or the rare carcinoma, thyrotoxicosis (the clinical syndrome of excess thyroid hormones) results in multisystemic illness and a wide variety of possible signs.īecause hyperthyroidism and its clinical signs are often insidiously progressive, it can be months to years before the owner recognizes the disease. 2 Thyroid hormone has many effects on the body, particularly on metabolism and cardiorespiratory function. Making the diagnosisĪlthough hyperthyroidism has been diagnosed in cats as young as 4 years old, 95% of cats are older than age 8 at the time of diagnosis, and 90% are over age 10. This article reviews thyroid hormone testing in cats, describes subclinical and clinical disease, and provides updates for recognizing today’s cat with hyperthyroidism. False-negative test results may delay the diagnosis and lead to significant morbidity for the pet, whereas false-positive results could contribute to misdiagnosis and iatrogenic hypothyroidism. Individual patient variability, breed-specific nuances, and the high prevalence of concurrent disease in the geriatric patient population can complicate matters. 2 However, for the remaining 10%, the diagnosis may be unclear. In about 90% of cats, hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed reliably with a single elevated TT4 measurement. Overt hyperthyroidism indicates compatible clinical signs and test results. Occult hyperthyroidism occurs when clinical signs are present, but diagnostic test results are normal. The term asymptomatic applies only to humans. Because animals cannot express symptoms, we must instead rely on clinical signs. In animals, this typically occurs at the earliest stages of disease. The term subclinical hyperthyroidism arises from human medicine to indicate that although thyroid disease is present, the patient does not experience any clinical signs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |