Page 63 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Hormonal disorders

Hormones are body chemicals that control particular functions. They are
produced by glands and carried in the bloodstream to the places where they
are needed. Any over- or underproduction of hormones may cause disorders.

The cat may be ravenously hungry
but still lose weight, and drink
Signs of a problem and urinate more than normal.
Other signs include vomiting and
■ Excessive thirst (drinking from diarrhea. You may be able to feel a
unusual places such as puddles rapid, thumping heartbeat. The fur
or washing-up water) may become dull and untidy. The
■ Increase or decrease in cat may be restless and excitable,
appetite—for example, a
previously fussy cat eating or in some cases lethargic. If
anything and everything untreated, hyperthyroidism may
■ Unusual weight gain or weight lead to hypertension and heart
loss, or inability to lose or gain failure (see p.59).
weight—may be subtle, developing A vet may feel for an enlarged
over a long time thyroid in the neck, listen for
■ Change in coat (altered color,
unusual texture, loss of fur— a heart murmur (abnormal
particularly on flanks and tail) heart sound), measure the blood
pressure, and take blood and urine
samples. The vet may prescribe
drugs or a low-iodine diet to
Hyperthyroidism reduce the production of thyroid △ Overweight cat
Being overweight and having an inactive lifestyle
The thyroid gland produces hormones. The cat will need to are two of the main factors that increase the risk
the hormones that control follow these for life. Other possible of a cat developing diabetes.
metabolism—the speed at which treatments are surgery to remove
the body’s functions occur. the thyroid tissue or radiation to An affected cat may be ravenously
Hyperthyroidism (overproduction destroy abnormal thyroid cells. hungry but still lose weight. Excess
of thyroid hormones) causes the glucose in the urine may cause
metabolism to speed up. This Diabetes mellitus the cat to urinate more than
condition is very common and The pancreas secretes insulin to usual and become very thirsty
most often affects older cats. control how the body’s cells take to compensate for the fluid loss.
in glucose—the main form of energy It may also predispose to bladder
from food. In diabetes mellitus the infections. Over time, excess blood
pancreas produces too little insulin, glucose can irritate nerves and
or the cells do not respond to it. blood vessels, damaging the brain,
As a result, blood glucose levels nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
become too high, while the cells A vet will collect blood and urine
cannot obtain enough energy. samples to detect excess glucose.
Diabetes mellitus is most common Diabetes can usually be controlled
in middle-aged or older cats, with insulin injections once or
especially ones that are overweight. twice a day. Your vet will show you
how to give these. The vet may also
◁ Signs of a thyroid problem prescribe a low carbohydrate/high
Most cats with hyperthyroidism become restless
and excitable, but some may become weak and protein diet, and advise on weight
lethargic and lose their appetite. control if the cat is overweight.

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