Hyperthyroidism is the most common feline endocrine disease of mature and senior cats. Autonomous thyroid tissue makes too much thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which raises metabolic rate and strains the heart, gut and kidneys. The exam often combines it with chronic kidney disease (CKD), because treating the thyroid can reveal hidden kidney disease.
Key facts
Hyperthyroidism at a glance- Species and system: cat, endocrine; affects cardiovascular, renal and GI systems.
- Cause: functional thyroid adenoma or adenomatous hyperplasia; both lobes are affected in about 70% of cats. Carcinoma accounts for under 3% of cases.
- Signalment: most common in cats over 7 years old.
- Classic presentation: weight loss despite a voracious appetite, hyperactivity, tachycardia and a palpable thyroid nodule.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Hyperthyroidism and kidney disease
- Treatment and management
- Don't confuse hyperthyroidism with
- Prognosis
- Working through a case
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 6 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.