Because the onset of symptoms of hyperthyroidism in cats can be slow and gradual, it can be quite difficult for a cat’s owner to become aware of the disease until it has already progressed quite a bit.
The most common sign in a cat with hyperthyroidism is weight loss even though the cat might have a seemingly ravenous appetite; this is due to their body’s rate of metabolism being increased. You may also notice that your cat will eat more frequently and more greedily. If you have an outdoor cat, he or she might hunt and catch mice and small birds more often.
However, this is not always the case and in some cats will actually display signs of lethargy and weakness and have no appetite at all.
Other common signs of hyperthyroidism in cats are diarrhea, vomiting, excessive drinking and urinating. Cats with hyperthyroidism may also become rather vocal virtually overnight.
These cats will also lose the desire to keep themselves well groomed and will need to rely on their owners to regularly groom them. Conversely, there are a few cats who will over-groom themselves to the extent of losing their hair caused by excessive licking. Their nails may also grow faster and longer than usual.
Regardless of the season, cats with hyperthyroidism will usually try to find the coolest place in the house to nap. This is because they are not able to withstand high heat.
Another sign of hyperthyroidism is a rapid heartbeat as well as murmurs and arrhythmias. Your cat may also show difficulty with breathing normally and and may not be able to tolerate stress or playtime like they used to. Sadly, nearly 15% of cats with hyperthyroidism will suffer from congestive heart failure because the hyperthyroidism literally wreaks havoc on a poor cat’s hear.
Since hyperthyroidism has the ability to affect every organ and system in the feline body, early detection is vitally important to the continued health and wellbeing of your cat.
There are quite a few different courses for treatment and your veterinarian will help you in deciding the best course of action for your cat. Your veterinarian will be able to thoroughly test your cat to determine the extent of the illness. Armed with that information you can figure out the best treatment plan for your cat.
However, besides all the surgical and medicinal treatments that your veterinarian may recommend, you should also consider adding an all-natural medication, like Resthryo for Feline Hyperthyroidism. Being that it was painstakingly formulated by a naturopathic veterinarian, Resthyro is a great herbal compliment to any treatment plan.
Resthryo contains a mixture of seven powerful herbs which work together to inhibit the over-production of thyroid hormones whilst also improving a cat’s cardiovascular functions and improving digestion.
Since most cats are often nervous and irritable, Resthyro’s herbs will help to keep your cat calm and relaxed with no adverse side effects. Resthryo is also safe for long term use.
Tags: All Natural, Cats, Feline, Hormones, Pets, Resthyro, Thyroid
Cats with hyperthyroidism can be treated rather successfully through the use of alternative treatment methods. Consider the following options when coming up with an individualized treatment plan for your kitty:
Change Your Cat’s Diet
Since hyperthyroidism is simply the overproduction of thyroid hormones, you should change your cat’s diet to one that is all-natural as this type of diet can help reduce hormone production.
Be wary of low-quality cat foods that are commercially prepared as these will often stimulate the thyroid gland to work overtime and will then be counter-intuitive to your cat’s hyperthyroidism.
Researchers have also found that the soy commonly found in many varieties of canned cat food, is a contributing factor to feline hyperthyroidism.
Sweet potatoes, lima beans, onions, garlic, millet, sorghum, cabbage, cassava, bamboo shoots and turnips, are also all being studied for a connection to hyperthyroidism in cats. Therefore you may consider avoid feeding these food items to your cat.
Researchers have also discovered that those cats who regularly consume poultry or beef show a decreased risk for hyperthyroidism.
A deficiency in iodine deficiency has also been associated with feline hyperthyroidism as well. Unfortunately, most commercially prepared cat food have varying amounts of iodine.
Consider adding selenium into your cat’s diet as it helps to remove any toxicity from the thyroid hormones.
DHA, or arachidonic acid anddocosahexaenoic acid, can also be added as it inhibits abnormal thyroid cell growth.
Add Supplements To Your Cat’s Diet
Adding supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, to your cat’s diet can do wonders to help curb their hyperthyroidism. There are numerous aspects of holistic medicine that heavily relies upon vitamin and mineral supplements in an attempt to help the body heal itself.
Two supplements that that have been shown to relax the thyroid gland are CoQ10 and L-carnitine.
Lemon balm is another great supplement that has been proven to reduce hyperthyroidism symptoms in cats.
If you are wanting to incorporate any of the above suggestions, it is best to first talk with your veterinarian. However, if you do not have a holistic vet, he or she may not be too willing or able to off you any guidance. If this is the case, please find yourself a holistic veterinarian.
Homeopathic veterinarians are skilled practitioners and will be able to help you in creating a holistic treatment plan for your cat’s hyperthyroidism. A homeopathic veterinarian believes that a cat’s thyroid thyroid gland dysfunction is usually a symptom of a much larger imbalance or disturbance happening in the cat’s body as a whole.
Another alternative treatment option is to consider using a herbal supplement that was formulated by a leading naturopathic veterinarian called Resthryo. It is an all-natural product that containing 7 different herbs that have been proven to be an effective treatment for feline hyperthyroidism. There are no harsh chemicals in Resythro and it is safe for long term use. Resthryo inhibits the over-production of the thyroid hormone, whilst reducing irritability and hyperactivity in cats.
Tags: Cats, Hyperthyroidism
A fairly common disease amongst older cats, hyperthyroidism is a disorder that is characterized by the overproduction of the thyroid hormone, which increases a cat’s metabolic rate.
When prescribing treatment, veterinarians have only three choices:
Prescription Medication
Some vet’s will prescribe an oral drug called methimazole to your cat to help treat hyperthyroidism. Methimazole is used to control the effects of a cat’s overactive thyroid gland. Less than 20% of all cats have a reaction to Methimazole, such as lethargy, vomiting, fever, anemia and anorexia. These side-effects can present themselves at least 6 months after the cat has started taking the oral medication.
Methimazole works by preventing the production of any excess thyroid hormones and will need to be given to the cat for the rest of its life. In order to make sure that the cat is receiving the correct amount of Methimazole, the veterinarian will conduct periodic blood tests.
This oral drug is better suited to those cats that are poor surgical candidates due to other health problems or age.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the affected thyroid lobe has proven to be very effective. However, since most cats with hyperthyroidism are over the age of 8 years, there are some risks involved with such a surgery; although if the cat is relatively healthy, then such a risk is considered to be rather minimal.
Seven weeks prior to the surgery, the cat is usually treated with an anti-thyroid medication. Whilst on this medication, the cat will most probably gain some weight as the medication will cause their somewhat ravenous appetite to subside.
Following the surgery, the cat is usually hospitalized for an additional night, before returning home. Once home, the cat should resume its regular eating patterns before becoming ill.
Radioactive Iodine
Another successful treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats is with the use of radioactive iodine therapy. The iodine is administered via injection and is used to destroy any abnormal thyroid tissues without causing harm to any other bodily organ.
However, such treatment will require that the cat remain hospitalized for one to two weeks at a veterinary hospital that is licensed to administer radiation therapy. Because there are so few of these veterinary hospitals, the cost for radioactive iodine therapy can be extremely expensive.
Recurrence
Hyperthyroidism can still reoccur in some cats. Although uncommon after receiving radioactive iodine therapy, hyperthyroidism can reoccur after surgery, especially if any abnormal thyroid cells were left behind. This is because the remaining cells will continue to grow. However, this usually happens in 5% of all cases.
Other Options
However, if you prefer a non-surgical treatment option without administering any harsh medications, you could opt instead for Resthyro. Formulated by a leading naturopathic veterinarian, Resthyro is an all-natural product that is infused with a potent combination of 7 different herbs that together, have proven effective in treating feline hyperthyroidism.
Resthyro helps balance thyroid function, improves cardiovascular function and digestion.
Resthyro is also very safe for long-term use.