Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Congenital hypothyroidism and concurrent renal insufficiency in a kitten.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Lim, Chee Kin et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old male domestic short-hair kitten was brought to the vet because he had chronic constipation and was much smaller than other kittens his age. X-rays showed that his bones were not developing properly. The vet diagnosed him with congenital primary hypothyroidism, which means his thyroid gland wasn't working right, confirmed by low levels of a hormone called thyroxine and high levels of another hormone that stimulates the thyroid. After starting treatment with a medication called levothyroxine, the kitten developed mild kidney issues, which could have been caused by the treatment or a hidden problem with his kidneys. It's important to catch and treat these conditions early, as the success of treatment can depend on how old the kitten is when diagnosed.
Abstract
A 3-month-old male domestic short-hair kitten was presented with chronic constipation and disproportionate dwarfism. Radiographs of the long bones and spine revealed delayed epiphyseal ossification and epiphyseal dysgenesis. Diagnosis of congenital primary hypothyroidism was confirmed by low serum total thyroxine and high thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations. Appropriate supplementation of levothyroxine was instituted. The kitten subsequently developed mild renal azotaemia and renal proteinuria, possibly as a consequence of treatment or an unmasked congenital renal developmental abnormality. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment are vital as alleviation of clinical signs may depend on the cat's age at the time of diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25685940/