Vet's Voice Kathleen Linpus www.vetcaretauranga.co.nz

Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormone imbalance in older cats. The thyroid gland is in the neck of the cat, and is not normally felt.

In cats with hyperthyroidism, the gland enlarges and excess thyroid hormone is produced. This results in an increased metabolic rate. The cat becomes hungrier and often asks for more food, but despite this, they lose weight.

They may drink more, have episodes of vomiting or diarrhoea, and some walk around the house at night meowing. Often they do not groom themselves as well as they used to. Some cats act out, being unsettled or even aggressive in situations they used to cope with. The excess thyroid hormone also causes heart disease and high blood pressure.

Your vet can examine your cat and determine if this disease is likely to be present, and a blood test is required for confirmation.

Then we discuss the various treatment options, to determine which will work best for the owner and the cat. There are tablets, ointments, surgery or referral treatments to choose from.

The good news is that once diagnosed, cats with hyperthyroidism usually respond well to the treatment and can continue to lead a normal lifestyle, often for many years.

There is nothing you can do at home to prevent this disease from developing, but keeping your older cat on a good quality ‘senior' diet, and having regular check-ups with your vet, gives us the best chance of catching this and other diseases early, and keeping your pet well.