My cat has high thyroid. What are the symptoms and long-term effects?

Hi there. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism generally include things like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive vocalization, and increased appetite or thirst. I would tend to agree with your veterinarian that if your kitty is not losing weight or having any other symptoms of a problem, there is no reason to change his medication dosage - although an increase may be needed in the future if he starts to have symptoms again.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Symptoms of hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) in cats are: weight LOSS not gain, increased thirst and urination, increased hunger and vocalizing especially at night. They can have heart murmurs and arrhythmia. The side effects on not treating is heart disease and weight loss. I recommend treating if her T4 is above the high end of the reference range. Please feel free to post her blood work results. I hope this helps and I wish Sofi the best!

I am sorry to hear that you and Ricochet are having a hard time. Unfortunately, the only way to see if the dose needs to be increased is to do bloodwork to evaluate his thyroid level. It is important to remember that there are other possible causes for him to be yowling at night, besides hyperthyroidism, including behavioral causes, cognitive dysfunction and potentially other metabolic causes and that increasing his methimazole too much will be harmful to Ricochet. I would recommend continuing the dose as prescribed by your vet and talking to them about what can be done to get Ricochet in for a blood test. Some clinics will accept payment plans or work with you to make sure that Ricochet gets the care he needs without putting you guys out of house and home. Again, so sorry you and Ricochet are going through this - you clearly care a lot about him and I hope he feels better soon! Also, to answer your question, the signs you may notice will be resolution of his signs of hyperthyroidism (typically, hyperthyroid cats exhibit weight loss despite voracious appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, among other possible signs). Hyperthyroidism can also affect other organs in the body like the kidneys, heart, brain and eyes, so sometimes we can see secondary disease in these organs with hyperthyroidism.

These sudden changes in temperament and the weight loss are commonly due to an endocrine problem called hyperthyroidism. The thyroid starts working more than normal increasing the metabolism (that is the cause of the weight loss) and causing behavioural changes similar to what you described. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. A blood test and urine analysis are needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, Gastrointestinal diseases like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), renal failure, tumors like lymphoma, may all have some signs in common with hyperthyroidism. Physical examination, history and clinico-pathological findings (resulting from blood tests and urine analysis) can differentiate them all. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I'm sorry to hear that Cleo isn't eating as well as she normal does. Hyperthyroidism typically causes weight loss despite an increase in appetite, although rare cats may experience a decreased appetite. The change in Cleo's appetite alone may or may not be associated with hyperthyroidism. Other causes of this sudden lack of interest in food and lethargy could be related to a gastrointestinal virus, kidney disease, parasites, liver disease, among many other conditions. If she still isn't eating normally in the next day or two, Cleo should go to her vet for evaluation and likely blood testing. However, if she becomes experiences extreme lethargy, experiences profuse vomiting or diarrhea, or will not drink water, Cleo should go to the vet immediately. I hope this helps and that Cleo feels better soon!

The signs of death can vary greatly from pet to pet. Often they will stop eating or drinking (and if you do not plan to treat, it can be uncomfortable for them if you force food or water since their body is shutting down). They will become profoundly lethargic. They may vocalize more or find a hiding place. I would not say hyperthyroidism itself is painful, but the side effects of it can be quite uncomfortable. Imagine eating everything in sight and still being hungry. Constant vomiting or diarrhea. No energy to do anything. There are medications your doctor can prescribe to treat hyperthyroidism. If you cannot afford topical or oral medications or a prescription food (like Hill's y/d), then you should watch Callie closely for signs of discomfort, and schedule time to talk with your vet about humane euthanasia so that she is not forced to suffer the consequences of her disease. I know that will be a very hard decision. Here is some more information you may find helpful: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=516 http://www.lapoflove.com/diseases/feline/Hyperthyroidism_in_Cats.pdf