Stratham-Newfields Veterinary Hospital
Providing Seacoast Pets a Higher Standard of Care 
  • Home
  • About Us
    • More about AAHA
    • More about ABVP
    • Pet Health Insurance
  • Contact Us
    • Petly information
  • Our Team
    • Doctors >
      • Dr. Dennis
      • Dr. Young
    • Nurses
    • Client Service Representatives
    • Assistants
    • "Alumni"
    • and, of course, you
    • Join Our Team
  • Our Services
    • Dental >
      • Dental X-Rays
    • Surgery
    • Anesthesia Safety
    • Pain Management
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Patient Care
    • Integrated Pet Care >
      • Acupuncture
      • PRP for arthritis
    • Emergency and Triage
  • Take a Tour
    • Reception
    • Cat-Friendly Exam Rooms >
      • Cats are not small dogs :)
    • Dog-Friendly Exam Rooms
    • Pharmacy
    • Dentistry >
      • Dental X-Rays
    • Hospitalized Patients >
      • Treatment and ICU
    • Why we are different
    • Surgical Procedures >
      • Human-Grade Surgical Suite
      • Pre-Operative Exam & Labs
      • Patient Monitoring
    • Digital X-Ray and Sonography
    • Boarding Facilities
  • Pet Parent Education
    • Dental care videos and books - free!
    • Painful tooth conditions
    • Tooth abscess
    • Travel & Pets
    • Hip arthritis (cat)
    • Bladder stones
    • Corn cob in stomach (dog)
    • Heart Diseases
    • Ear Care
    • Ear canal mass
    • How to apply eye drops
    • Anal gland issues
    • Thyroid Disease
    • Diabetes mellitus >
      • Diabetes in cats
      • Diabetes in dogs
    • Links to other info
    • The Dog Park
Picture
Link to download/view full brochure.

Feline Hyperthyroidism

  • is the most common endocrine disorder in cats over 7 years old.
  • occurs in about 10% of cats over 10 years of age. 
  • is caused by an overactive thyroid gland that secretes excess thyroid hormone.
Excess thyroid hormone causes an overactive metabolism that stresses the heart, digestive tract, and many other organ systems.

Untreated Hyperthyroidism Causes

  • marked weight loss, usually in spite of a good appetite.
  • increased thirst and urination.
  • gastrointestinal upset, like vomiting and diarrhea.
  • damage to organs, especially the heart and kidneys.

Diagnosis

Generally, simple blood tests are all that is needed.  Some cats that also have other health problems will require additional tests before treatment can be started.   Annual screening can detect this disease before serious problems occur. 

Treatment

There are four basic treatments: daily medication, special food, radioiodine, and surgery.  Your veterinarian will discuss the best option for your cat. 
​Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Treatment. 

Did you know? 
Dr. Dennis co-authored the most current Guidelines for Feline Hyperthyroidism

Picture
Blindness in a cat due to high blood pressure from hyperthyroid disease. Photo by Dr. Ward.
Picture

 Stratham-Newfields Veterinary Hospital, 8 Main Street, Newfields NH 03856
Phone: 603-778-7687   | Fax: 603-778-2471  |   vip@snvh.net
​Directions and Additional Contact Information
e-mail us
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by IDEXX Laboratories