Diagnostic Tests for Hyperthyroidism in Cats

The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, one of the most common disorders affecting elderly cats, is usually straightforward and considered routine by most practitioners. Nowadays, however, most cats suffering from hyperthyroidism tend to be diagnosed earlier and at a milder stage of the disease than those cats diagnosed 10 to 25 years ago. There are, in fact, a growing number of cats with clinical signs of hyperthyroidism and palpably large thyroid glands whose baseline serum total thyroid hormone concentrations are within the normal or borderline range, making diagnosis problematic. This paper reviews the available tests used to confirm a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in cats and discusses their overall usefulness.