Feline Hyperthyroidism could be the cause of your pet's discomfort

Feline Hyperthyroidism is a disease that is common in middle to older aged cats. It occurs when a tumor develops on your cat's thyroid gland which causes it to enlarge. Don't worry - the tumor is non-cancerous and several treatment options are available for your companion.

There are several unfortunate symptoms associated with Feline Hyperthyroidism. These include significant weight loss, increased appetite, thirst and urination, as well as diarrhea. You know better than anyone (well, almost anyone) if your pet is feeling uncomfortable.

However, a common pet health question that we have been asked is whether a cat will experience an increased appetite with this condition. The answer is yes. In some cases, cats will eat less even though they have lost the weight. This isn’t common, but it does happen. This is almost a sure sign your pet's comfort is jeopardized.

If you find your pet with any or all of these symptoms, please seek a veterinarian to examine your cat. Visiting a veterinarian at the earliest stages of these diseases greatly improves the ability to treat them. Not only will your cat be happier, you'll be glad you helped out one of your closest friends.

If you're worried about pet comfort while your cat is being examined, fear not! Very safe and reliable procedures are used, and there is little discomfort involved. Typically, several tests are involved to accurately determine whether your pet has Feline Hyperthyroidism.

In the unfortunate case that your pet is found to have this disease, don't fret. Feline Hypothyroidism is curable. Your veterinarian will provide you and your pet with several treatment options based on the results of the tests. These treatment options are likely to include radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid medications or even removal of the gland.

Radioactive iodine is the most common option if your pet has normal kidney and heart functions. There are no risks of surgery associated with radioactive iodine and it is an efficient cure for the disease.

Anti-thyroid pet medication is most commonly used if your cat has kidney problems. Anti-thyroid pet meds don't worsen the kidney functions as the other treatment options do. This pet treatment option allows the veterinarian to manage both the kidney problem and the hyperthyroid problem and allows your cat to live a longer, happier life.

Removal of the thyroid gland is also a treatment option. However, there are risks associated with surgery, and it is difficult to find veterinarians that are specialized and skilled enough to remove them. On the bright side, if you find a veterinarian specialized enough to remove the thyroid gland, then your cat won't need any pet meds.

While none of these options are one-hundred percent comfortable for your pet, there are a number of pet products that can make your cat more comfortable during the treatment process (especially if you choose surgery). The more comfortable your pet is, the easier and quicker your pet can heal from Feline Hyperthyroidism.