polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

mariette asselbergs — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:36:09 GMT

A "hungry tumour"? I once saw this in our neighbours' cat, who was 15 or so and was eating ravenously until the very end with a growing abdominal mass.

Mariette

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Kate Richardson — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:03:16 GMT

P.S. And generally with Conns, the hypokalaemia, which is often severe, would mean they are more likely to be inappetant or anorexic, rather than polyphagic, but as they say, cat's don't read the textbook!

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Kate Richardson — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:57:21 GMT

Main 3 differentials for polyphagia and weight loss are hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus and intestinal disease, either intestinal lymphosarcoma or IBD. So having ruled out hyperthyroidism (which with a T4 that low I would think very unlikely even if suppressed by non-thyroidal illness) and diabetes, you are most likely dealing with GIT disease so an abdominal ultrasound scan would be best next step, then if unremarkable, ideally git biopsies. Also liver disease possible as can be polyphagic and show weight loss even if liver parameters on bloods are unremarkable. Again scan may be helpful here.

Conns (hyperaldosteronism) causes hypokalaemia and hypertension primarily, so check electrolytes if you haven't already and BP, and if consistent can measure aldosterone levels, or ultrasound to demonstrate an adrenal mass.

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Jillian Hall — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:07:54 GMT

I'd recheck total T4 +/- free T4. I know the T4 was particularly low when you tested it last, but if the symptoms fit I still wouldn't rule it out on a single measurment. As above, is there a thyroid nodule, and what is the heart rate?

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Louise6732 — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:53:03 GMT

T4 is suppressed by concurrent disease. Any palpable goitre?

What is the body condition score of the cat? Is she on any treatment for renal disease? Is she anaemic, given the comments on the smear?

Not especially common but does happen, this paper in JFMS had 2 cases of Conns (hyperaldosteronism) with polyphagia and increased CK.

Primary hyperaldosteronism in the cat: a series of 13 cases Original Research Article
Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, Volume 7, Issue 3, June 2005, Pages 173-182
Roderick. Andrew Ash, Andrea M. Harvey, Séverine Tasker

Were the electrolytes normal?

I'd definitely check BP, and also another urinalysis.

Hope this helps!

Louise

Re: polyphagic cat not hyperthyroid or diabetic

Rob Davis — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:42:58 GMT

What are her stools like (looking for maldigestion/malabsorption). If normal, sounds like you need to go on a tumour hunt...