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Linda O's avatar

Could the explosion in diagnosed hyperthyroidism -an excess of circulating thyroid hormone i.e “thyroxine”- in cats be due to iodine deficiency rather than the opposite?

"Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrinopathy of domestic felines. In humans, toxic nodular goitre is pathophysiologically similar to feline hyperthyroidism and can be caused by chronically low or fluctuating dietary iodine intake..Cats being treated for hyperthyroidism had lower hair iodine. In conclusion, a survey assessing how domestic cats are fed, together with an analysis of commercial cat feeds suggests that domestic cats are likely to experience chronically low or fluctuating dietary iodine intake."

"Prescription" commercial foods contain extremely low levels of iodine.

So the common cat diet is probably low in iodine to begin with - which creates the chronic imbalance which the thyroid responds to by 'galloping'.

Then the vets 'treat' it with low iodine 'prescription' foods and Methimazole that works by interfering with the thyroid’s ability to make thyroid hormone.

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Dee's avatar

Ohhhh, scales contain keratin and an anagram of keratin is retina!

Great information, thank you kindly.

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