In veterinary clinical practice, thyroid disease is one of the common endocrine problems, especially hypothyroidism in canine and hyperthyroidism in cats. These two diseases have important effects on pet health, so we need to have an in-depth unders...
In veterinary clinical practice, thyroid disease is one of the common endocrine problems, especially hypothyroidism in canine and hyperthyroidism in cats. These two diseases have important effects on pet health, so we need to have an in-depth understanding of their basic knowledge, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, treatment methods, and follow-up testing. This article will provide detailed guidelines for clinical veterinarians to better diagnose and treat these diseases.
Canthes hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease mainly due to insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones (T4 and T3). This disease can be caused by a variety of causes, including autoimmune diseases, abnormal thyroid development, or exogenous factors. Among them, autoimmune diseases are the most common cause, that is, the body's immune system abnormally attacks its own thyroid tissue, resulting in hypothyroidism.
The clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism in dogs are diverse, mainly including weight gain, abnormal hair (such as thinning hair, thickening hair, hair loss), skin problems (such as dry skin, skin infection), fatigue, decreased mobility, decreased body temperature, and slow heart rate. These symptoms may gradually appear and the degree varies depending on the severity of the disease.
If diagnosis and treatment are not performed, hypothyroidism can cause the following hazards:
1. Aggravated health problems: Untreated hypothyroidism can cause a continuous decline in thyroid hormone levels, which in turn aggravates the health problems of the dog. Symptoms may gradually worsen, including weight gain, hair problems, skin infections, fatigue, muscle weakness, etc., affecting the dog's quality of life.
2. Heart problems: Thyroid hormones have a great impact on the cardiovascular system. Untreated hypothyroidism may lead to heart problems such as slowing heart rate and arrhythmia, increasing the burden on the heart, and even causing serious complications such as heart failure.
3. Nervous system problems: Thyroid hormones also have important effects on the nervous system. Untreated hypothyroidism may cause nervous system problems, including changes in mental state, abnormal behavior, etc.
4. Metabolic problems: Thyroid hormone is an important hormone that regulates metabolism. Untreated hypothyroidism may lead to a decrease in the metabolic rate, affecting energy metabolism, and thus affecting the overall health of the dog.
5. Other complications: Long-term untreated hypothyroidism may also cause other complications, such as anemia, immune system problems, reproductive system problems, etc., pose a more serious threat to the health of the dog.
Hyperthyroidism in cats is a common endocrine disease, mainly due to excessive secretion of thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) due to thyroid adenoma or thyroid hyperplasia. This disease usually occurs in older cats, especially in older age groups over 10 years of age.
The pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism mainly involves the hyperactivity of thyroid tissue caused by thyroid adenoma or hyperplasia, leading to the excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. Thyroid adenomas are the most common cause in cats, which are usually benign but can sometimes be malignant.
The clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism in cats usually involve multiple systems, which are manifested as increased appetite but weight loss, increased activity, anxiety, faster heart rate, increased body temperature, and digestive system problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, cats may also show kidney-related symptoms such as eating too much, drinking too much, and frequent urination.
If not diagnosed and treated, hyperthyroidism in cats may cause the following hazards:
1. Cardiovascular system problems: Excessive thyroid hormone can lead to cardiovascular system problems such as accelerated heart rate and arrhythmia. In the absence of long-term treatment, serious complications such as myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure may lead to serious complications, endangering the cat's life.
2. Metabolic problems: Too much thyroid hormone can accelerate the metabolic rate of cats, leading to weight loss, muscle loss, hypereating, and more drinking and urinating. This can lead to cats being malnutrition, physical weakness, and increase the risk of other health problems.
3. Digestive system problems: Hyperthyroidism in cats may cause digestive system problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion and other symptoms. Long-term untreated will affect the cat's nutritional absorption, leading to malnutrition and the occurrence of digestive tract diseases.
4. Nervous system problems: Too much thyroid hormone can affect the function of the nervous system, leading to nervous system problems such as anxiety, excitement, and abnormal behavior, and may even cause convulsions or other neurological complications.
5. Impaired renal function: Hyperthyroidism in cats that have been untreated for a long time may cause excessive kidney burden, increase the risk of kidney disease, and thus affect the overall health of the cat.
6. Other complications: Untreated cats may also cause other serious complications, such as anemia, bone diseases, immune system problems, etc., which seriously affect the quality of life and life span of cats.
