Blood Test For Hyperthyroidism In Cats

This test indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver kidneys and infectious diseases.

Blood test for hyperthyroidism in cats.

Thyroxine is a thyroid hormone. In cats with borderline or high normal t4 levels a free t4 test may be done to confirm the disease. Your vet will perform a blood test that measures the levels of thyroid hormones in your cat s blood. Most cats with hyperthyroidism have elevated levels of the thyroid hormone t4 in their bloodstream but a small percentage of cats with hyperthyroidism have t4 levels within the normal range.

A baseline blood sample is taken followed by oral administration of liothyronine a synthetic form of t3 for seven doses followed by another blood sample. Hyperthyroid cats may have normal findings on the cbc and urinalysis but the chemistry panel often shows elevation of several liver enzymes. Blood urea nitrogen. T3 suppression test for cats diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism can usually be accomplished by measuring t3 t4 and or free t4 in a single baseline blood sample.

Diagnosing hyperthyroidism diagnosing hyperthyroidism will require blood tests to measure the levels of thyroid hormones t4 in your cats blood. In roughly two to ten percent of cats with hyperthyroidism. The t3 suppression test is used for diagnosing hyperthyroidism in cats that have normal t3 t4 and or free t4 concentrations but appear clinically hyperthyroid. Most cats will have a significantly elevated t4 level 2.

A high t4 might indicate the development of hyperthyroidism a commonly diagnosed condition in cats high thyroid levels can cause a myriad of different signs in cats including increased appetite weight loss eating non food items or wanting more human food and increased vomiting. Thyroxine t4 is usually monitored in cats as they get older. Both blood samples evaluated at a specialist. Most hyperthyroid cats have very high levels of hormone but some cats will have signs of hyperthyroidism with normal or only slightly increased levels of thyroid hormone.

The most reliable test veterinarians utilize to diagnose hyperthyroidism in cats is by doing a simple blood test. Often the blood test will show the elevated levels of levothyroxine or t 4 in the bloodstream. If the levels of those hormones are high your cat is hyperthyroid. T3 suppression test for cats whose t3 and t4 results are within normal parameters but the cat appears to be clinically hyperthyroid.

It is important to keep in mind that sometimes these tests can be wrong. If thyroid disease is a possibility your veterinarian will likely order a blood chemistry panel and an analysis of thyroid hormone levels.