Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in teenage cats, sadly sometimes, their symptoms are missed and referred to as just ‘old age’. Overactive thyroid gland (another name for the condition) is something we see quite regularly in older cats, the good news is diagnosis is fairly simple and there are different treatment options available to suit the individual patient.

Some signs to watch out for in your cat include :

Vomiting

Dull coat

Change in attitude

Increased thirst

Having ‘Accidents’ around the home

Thyroid glands are found in your cats neck, either side of the wind pipe. The glands produce a hormone which controls the body’s metabolism, which is why owners commonly report weight loss as one of the first symptom’s they notice.

If you cat is showing some or all of the above signs – Don’t panic. The first thing to do is book an appointment with your local vets, The vet will be able to give your cat an all over health and weight check. To diagnose an over active thyroid gland we recommend a blood test, results are prompt and usually back from the lab the next working day.

Results day : Once the diagnosis has been confirmed there are two types of treatment that we offer here at Young Vets :

• A daily dose of medication given at home (usually tablets) to stop the overproduction of the hormone. If choosing the medication from home option, the owner will need to ensure that the cat is receiving the specified dose at regular intervals (the same time each day).
• An operation to remove either one or both thyroid glands. We would often recommend 14 days of medication prior to surgery to help stabilize the hormones but following on from the surgery, medication would cease. A speedy recovery is usually followed and the patient can go home either the same or following day.

• If left untreated it can lead to blindness, heart conditions and in extreme cases even death.

Following either treatment option, your cats progress will need to be monitored regularly by yourself and your veterinary surgeon but there is no reason your cat should not continue to live a happy, healthy life.

If you have concerns over your teenage cat do not hesitate to contact your local Young Vets surgery to discuss your cats case with one of our experienced veterinary surgeons.