Tag Archives: hyperthyroidism

When we recently reviewed our top performing blogposts, we found something interesting: the oldest post and the only top post specifically about cats focused on chronic kidney disease. Fourteen years later, the topic remains just as relevant. With World Kidney Day on March 12th highlighting Kidney Health for All, it’s worth remembering that kidney health matters for our feline family members too. A diagnosis of kidney disease in your cat can sound frightening. But in many cases, especially when detected early, feline chronic kidney disease can be managed for years, allowing cats to maintain an excellent quality of life.

About ten years ago, I developed an educational presentation for veterinarians titled “A Cat Is Not a Little Dog.” This presentation highlighted diseases that affect these two species very differently. For example: Diabetes: Dogs can develop Type I diabetes, while cats develop Type II diabetes Thyroid Disorders: The most common endocrine disorder in dogs is hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), while cats more often have the opposite condition, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) Mast Cell Tumors: These skin tumors are most common in dogs, while in cats they often occur in the spleen. However, there are a few medical similarities between dogs and cats that might surprise you. Today’s blogpost highlights three key areas where our feline and canine companions face similar health challenges.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), of which AMC is a member, maintains guidelines for the life stages of cats in conjunction with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). These purr-fectly tailored guidelines help veterinary professionals make recommendations for wellness care for cats of different life stages. The guidelines address four feline age groups: kittens (birth to 1 year of age), young adult (1-6 years of age), mature (7-10 years of age) and senior cats (> 10 years of age). In today’s blogpost, I’ll discuss the nuances of veterinary care for each of these age groups and the one thing all cat owners should do to ensure the health and vitality of their feline friends.

The American Animal Hospital Association recommends blood tests as part of an annual well pet examination. These tests include a biochemical profile, evaluating your pet’s kidneys, blood sugar, blood protein levels, and electrolytes such as calcium, potassium, sodium and chloride. The panel also always includes multiple tests of liver health, which I will be discussing in today’s blogpost.

A common reason pet families bring their pets to the veterinarians at the Animal Medical Center is an increase in water consumption, or polydipsia in doctor speak. If the pet