What T4 levels indicate hyperthyroidism in cats?
T4 levels greater than 48 nmol/litre indicated inadequate treatment or untreated hyperthyroidism, T4 levels ranging between 35–45 nmol/litre required clinical assessments, while T4 levels less than 13 nmol/litre indicated hypothyroidism or over dosing of medication (Quantum Vet Diagnostics, 2019).
When should I recheck my hyperthyroid cat?
The first recheck evaluation should: Take place once the cat has been eating the new food exclusively for 4 weeks. Include, at minimum, a physical examination and measurement of T4, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urine specific gravity.
What is the difference between free T4 and total T4?
T4 TESTS T4 is the main form of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood. A Total T4 measures the bound and free hormone and can change when binding proteins differ (see above). A Free T4 measures what is not bound and able to enter and affect the body tissues.
How long can a cat live on methimazole?
When cats with preexisting renal disease were excluded, median survival time for cats treated with methimazole alone (2.0 years; interquartile range [IQR], 1 to 3.9 years) was significantly shorter than median survival time for cats treated with 131I alone (4.0 years; IQR, 3.0 to 4.8 years) or methimazole followed by …
Can hyperthyroid cats go into remission?
No, I’ve never seen a hyperthyroid cat go into remission. Cats with hyperthyroidism all have one or more benign thyroid nodules, generally benign tumors or adenomas (see Figure below). These thyroid tumors will not go away spontaneously once they have formed (1-4).
Is tuna bad for cats with hyperthyroidism?
Be sure your canned tuna is made with 100% fish and packed with water, not oil. Artificial flavors have ties to causing hyperthyroidism in cats.
Should I Feed My hyperthyroid cat more?
Hyperthyroid cats need high calorie and high protein diets to reduce the rate of weight loss and muscle wasting that accompanies the disease. Thyroxine (the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland) is one of numerous counter-regulatory or anti-insulin hormones. As such it’s effects are opposite to those of insulin.
What is more important TSH or free T4?
T4 is produced in large quantities by the thyroid. However, TSH is a far superior screening test because small changes in T4 cause large TSH spikes. Usually when a person has hypothyroidism, TSH levels become very high way before T4 levels fall below normal.
What is a T4 test for cats?
The T4 (total T4 or thyroxine) test is a diagnostic test for hyperthyroidism. It is also useful as a screening test for hypothyroidism and for monitoring treatment with methimazole. T4 concentrations can be affected by medications, disease states, and nutrition.