Symptoms of a Feline Thyroid Problem

Video Transcript

"The symptoms of feline--or cat--thyroid issues or problems are classic when it comes to an older cat. Now, the thyroid problem we're talking about isn't hypothyroid--as in a lower, slowed down thyroid--but hyperthyroid. Hyperthyroid means the thyroid gland is overactive in producing... usually it's producing too much thyroid hormone. It doesn't mean that your cat... with the thyroid hormone being produced, the metabolism is going very fast, and it's hyperactive, but the cat is not like running around in circles and running off the walls and things like that. The cat is acting fairly normal, outside of the fact that it has got this fetish now about food and just won't let it go, but it's also losing weight. So, you really need to watch that. When you see those two put together, think hyperthyroidism, and you really have to talk to your veterinarian. There are many ways that we can treat it, and some are very simple and easy. Other ones can get a little more complicated. But, sometimes also, if you're looking at a cat, and the thyroid glands are just on their neck, sometimes they will get enlarged, and if you know what you're doing and feel your cat's neck, you can actually feel the thyroid gland enlarged, either one or both of them. But that's not always the case. Many times I'll look at a cat that's classically or very typically hyperthyroid, and it doesn't have swollen glands, so you can't really tell by that. Just recognize the fact that normal cat's acting just fine, eating a lot, losing weight."