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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / May 2006question about kidney values and feline hypothyroidism
The question is: Can feline hypothyroidism (and I do mean hypo, not hyper-thyroidism) cause an elevation in kidney values? I ask because my cat recently had radioiodine treatment for hyperthyroidism. This has left him in a bit of a hypothyroid state, with T4 levels well below the normal range. He also has somewhat elevated kidney values, and I'm wondering whether the elevated kidney values reflect an underlying kidney condition that is now becoming visible or if its simply a direct consequence of his hypothyroidism. Thanks! Steve Oh, I should mention that when we were controlling my cat's T4 levels with tapazole prior to his radioiodine treatment, his kidney values were normal. That's why I can't help but wonder whether his T4 level's now being below normal is affecting his kidney function and elevating his kidney values. > Oh, I should mention that when we were controlling my cat's T4 levels > with tapazole prior to his radioiodine treatment, his kidney values > were normal. That's why I can't help but wonder whether his T4 level's > now being below normal is affecting his kidney function and elevating > his kidney values. Thyroid levels being too low should definitely not cause elevations in kidney values. I suspect what has happened is that you weren't suppressing the thyroid as much as you thought you were with the tapazole, and now that you have thoroughly suppressed it, you have unmasked the kidney disease. Increasing thyroid levels might make the kidney values go down again, but in reality you would probably only be masking the underlying renal disease. What does your vet say? Deborah, DVM My vet basically agrees with you. So, I'm inclined to think that there is kidney disease, as much as I hate to say it. The most immediate problem I'm having with my cat symptom-wise is constipation. He's taking a laxative and is able to defecate, but with some difficulty. I know that kidney disease can cause constipation, but he never suffered from constipation until *after* his radioactive iodine treatment. Immediately after the iodine, he had severe constipation that has never really gone away, even though we're managing it with laxatives. I thought that giving him a thyroid supplement might help with the constipation. However, maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part, and the real cause of his constipation is the kidney disease. Sorry if this is less than transparent. For someone who isn't a vet, the highly interrelated nature of the major organ systems and the diseases affecting them is pretty daunting. Was a urinalysis also checked when his kidney values were checked? Kidney values can go up with dehydration, and dehydration can also cause constipation (the body tries to resorb all the liquid it can, so the stool gets quite hard). If he had concentrated urine, then you might be dealing with dehydration (for whatever reason) vs true renal disease. Or it could be that the kidney disease is causing mild dehydration. Perhaps subcutaneous fluids would be an option. At least feed him canned food if you aren't already, as it has a very high moisture content, and try to encourage as much water intake as possible. Hopefully you'll get it figured out and make him comfortable! Deborah, DVM > My vet basically agrees with you. So, I'm inclined to think that there > is kidney disease, as much as I hate to say it. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the highly interrelated nature of the major organ systems and the > diseases affecting them is pretty daunting. Thanks very much for your replies! They're very helpful. He is on a diet of wet food only. Urinalysis also indicates some kidney disease, so CRF may well be the real cause of his constipation. I suspected that it was his low T4 levels causing the constipation only because the constipation started immediately following radioiodine therapy. Still, this could be a mere coincidence. Either way, I have a good vet and I'm confident she'll do what's best for my cat. Thanks again! Steve An update: Some more extensive bloodwork has revealed that my cat does appear to be hypothyroid now and I will soon be giving him a small amount of synthetic thyroid hormone. Of course, this might not help his constipation and it might not cause his kidney values to improve, but if nothing else I hope it will make him feel better. Of course, this might not help his > constipation and it might not cause his kidney values to improve, but > if nothing else I hope it will make him feel better. .......try syringing some water in his mouth a couple of times a day if he'll tolerate it. Otherwise has the vet mentioned subQs? Some probiotics may also draw water to the stool to soften it. buglady take out the dog before replying |
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