Advice & Information

Each month we intend to put a number of popular questions to our vets relating to general pet health and care. Whilst in no way intended to replace a professional diagnosis, we hope that the information and advice provided on these pages are useful. There is also a number of excellent fact sheets created by the Blue Cross pet charity, to the right of this page.

Cat Questions

What is Hyperthyroidism?

This is the most common hormonal disease of cats. Rarely seen in cats under 8 yrs old, it is due to over production of thyroid hormone from the 2 thyroid glands in the neck.

Cats present with weight loss, increased appetite, hyperactivity, restlessness, high heart rate with possible arrhythmias, increased thirst and a mated greasy coat. The condition is diagnosed on clinical findings, palpating an often enlarged thyroid gland and blood tests. It is very important to diagnose hyperthyroidism because the cat will go into heart failure if left untreated.

Treatment options
1)Anti-thyroid drug therapy interferes with production of thyroid hormone but does not give a cure as withdrawal of the drug will lead to continued thyroid overproduction. Mild side effects are sometimes seen on this medication which can include anorexia, vomiting and lethargy and blood tests should be taken regularly to check liver and kidney function. 2)Surgical removal of the overactive thyroid gland is the treatment of choice provided that there are no other problems with the health of the cat. This gives permanent reduction in thyroid hormone secretion but about in about 20% of cats the remaining thyroid gland can become over active at a later date. 3)Radioactive Iodine therapy but your cat will remain in the specialised treatment unit for up to 8 weeks.

More Questions:

Aural Haematomas

What is Hyperthyroidism?

Why should I vaccinate my cat?

How often should I have it vaccinated?

What diseases does the vaccination guard against?

What are worms and how can I tell if my cat has them?

Should I use off the shelf worming products from supermarkets?

How can I protect my cat (and home) against fleas?

My cat’s claws are really sharp! Can I trim them?

My cat has fair skin – is it safe for her to be lying in the sun for long periods?

How can I cut down the amount of hairballs my cat suffers with?

At what age should my kitten be vaccinated and neutered/speyed?

My cat kills birds and mice, which I find upsetting – is there a way to stop them from doing this?