Hyperthyroidism is not an uncommon disorder of older cats in Ireland but is anecdotally considered of low prevalence. In one study, a high proportion of hyperthyroid cats (in excess of 60 per cent) did not have a palpable goitre, Given that around 90per cent of hyperthyroid cats in other studies have palpable goitre, this discrepancy may reflect the considered low prevalence of disease. If goitre is not palpated, clinicians may not include hyperthyroidism in their list of differentials and not consider testing total thyroxine, Clinicians are advised to spend sufficient time during routine and non-routine checks palpating the thyroid area, It is good practice to consider measuring total thyroxine in cats aged seven and older, Untreated cats with hyperthyroidism will suffer considerable morbidity from their disease, both reversible and irreversible, Therefore, it makes good sense from a patient welfare perspective to identify these cats earlier and implement treatment regimes. It is also good business sense to identify and treat these patients as they represent a good income stream to the practice. Cat-only clinics and cat geriatric clinics are worth considering as they can increase revenue and can be readily implemented, Creating a cat-only area reduces stress and anxiety in the patient and owner, and allows for improved examinations and more accurate results from sampling.
展开▼
