What is the Best Food to Feed a Cat With Hyperthyroidism?
If your cat has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, their vet will likely recommend medicine (methimazole) that will reduce production of thyroid hormones by his thyroid gland. Dietary modification may also be beneficial.
Raw diets may be especially helpful as they do not contain synthetic vitamins and minerals, while their high protein levels promote healthy weight management while aiding your cat in building muscle mass.
Canned Food
An animal with hyperthyroidism will exhibit symptoms like rapid heart rate, increased thirst and frequent urination as well as weight loss. Left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage; to avoid this occurring a diet high in protein while low in carbohydrates and iodine may help.
Canned foods are an ideal option for cats with hyperthyroidism because they contain moisture-rich food with a high protein content, plus contain omegas to support immune health. When selecting canned cat food it is important to choose one labelled low in iodine content and without iodized salt content; Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Canned Cat Food is an ideal example as it boasts both these qualities!
Feed your cat a prescription diet with restricted iodine levels (0.2 ppm), recommended by their veterinarian, to ensure their thyroid hormone levels don’t increase without medication. A low iodine diet must also be used carefully alongside other treatments such as radioactive iodine therapy or methimazole for hyperthyroidism.
Raw food diets can be particularly helpful for cats with hyperthyroidism. Nutrient-rich, raw food diets contain vitamins and minerals not found in processed food sources; additionally, their moisture-rich composition makes raw foods ideal as hyperthyroidism causes frequent urination and thirst requiring them to consume additional fluids.
Wet Food
Wet food diets are ideal for cats with hyperthyroidism as they contain higher concentrations of protein. Cats suffering from this condition require high amounts of protein to combat weight loss and muscle atrophy associated with this condition, while being easier for their stomachs to digest – two important characteristics when considering cat food choices for hyperthyroidism patients.
To feed your cat with hyperthyroidism a low iodine diet, ensure the food doesn’t contain seafood such as fish or tuna which increases its iodine content. Nulo Freestyle Turkey and Chicken Recipe has lower iodine levels than many foods; however it contains eggs and tuna which could present problems if your pet suffers from hyperthyroidism. Alternatively, consult with your veterinarian regarding prescription diets that have reduced levels of iodine; otherwise only use such options if iodine levels are restricted as treatment for his/her condition.
Hyperthyroidism in cats occurs when their thyroid glands produce too much hormone, leading to weight loss, heart disease and other symptoms in your pet. While this condition is commonly found, treatment options include medicine or surgery – though there may also be medications available that treat other health conditions of cats; so if you suspect your feline friend might have issues you should speak with their veterinarian immediately.
Raw Food
Cats suffering from hyperthyroidism require a high-protein diet in order to preserve their restorative weight and minimize muscle wasting, while at the same time keeping levels of iodine intake down as too much can exacerbate their condition. Raw foods are often recommended, since they contain both protein and no extra iodine – but it is vitally important that raw food be stored separately in stainless steel bowls or containers to protect from contamination from plastic storage containers or bowls that contain bacteria that could pose potential risk in case plastic items are exposed during storage or feedings.
Your cat’s thyroid gland produces hormones to regulate its metabolism and body regulation. When its levels rise too far, your pet could experience weight loss, hyperactivity, diarrhea and other symptoms; your veterinarian will perform an exam to detect any enlarged thyroid glands.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that can be managed and in some cases treated using various options, including long-term medical management with methimazole, surgery (which has low probability for long-term cure) and curative therapies such as radioiodine treatment.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Y/d Thyroid Care has been specially developed for this condition and clinical trials have demonstrated its success at helping control elevated blood glucose and insulin levels, supporting weight management, controlling phosphorous intakes which prevent crystal formation in kidneys as well as providing adequate moisture support due to dehydration which is common with this condition.
Low Iodine
Hyperthyroidism occurs when a cat’s thyroid gland enlarges and produces too much thyroid hormone, leading to various health problems including an increase in metabolic rate, heart and kidney disease, and bone abnormalities. To combat these effects, veterinarians typically advise feeding their pet food that contains less iodine to balance out hormone levels; there are several products on the market suitable for this purpose and your veterinarian can suggest the one most suited to their individual pet’s needs.
Prescription diets designed to treat hyperthyroidism often contain very limited iodine content as this mineral interferes with thyroid hormone production. While these recipes do not treat the root cause of hyperthyroidism (an issue with the gland itself), they can serve as useful management tools in tandem with other therapies for the condition. One such diet, the Hills y/d diet is highly restricted in its iodine content and has proven successful at controlling thyroid hormone levels for at least one full year in cats.
This food is a high-protein, grain-free pate with an extremely low iodine level of 0.33mg/kg. Chicken serves as its primary protein source and other ingredients are included to promote gut health like organic flaxseed and cranberries. Incorporation of bovine adrenal and thymus tissue supports immune health while adding cranberries and turmeric help support urinary tract health.
When selecting low iodine food for your cat, be sure to exclude sources of iodine such as iodized salt from their diet. Furthermore, ensure they receive enough protein as hyperthyroidism can lead to muscle wasting and thus an inability to meet daily protein requirements.
High Protein
Protein-rich diets can help cats with hyperthyroidism shed excess weight more effectively, according to Cornell Feline Health Center. Protein can also prevent muscle atrophy that often comes with this condition; however, it’s essential that it comes from safe sources for optimal results.
Nulo’s Freestyle High-Protein Dry Cat Food can be an ideal option for pets with thyroid conditions. Packed full of energy from protein-rich chicken, and free from grains and wheat, it provides plenty of energy while supporting kidney health and preventing urinary tract infections while encouraging gut health with probiotics and omega fatty acids for enhanced skin and coat health. However, some ingredients of the food could potentially be debated; such as corn gluten meal and soybean mill run.
Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d Thyroid Care food, available both canned and dry forms, contains high levels of protein from chicken with restricted iodine levels to ensure your cat doesn’t produce an excess amount of hormones; studies have proven this diet’s efficacy within three weeks of beginning it!
Raw diets that include various meat proteins are an ideal choice for cats with hyperthyroidism as long as their kidneys remain undamaged. This is because these meals are high in protein while having minimal iodine content, helping your cat regain weight and muscle mass lost as a result of this disease. Products like Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original grain-free poultry recipe wet cat food or Tiki Cat Hanalei Luau wild salmon grain-free canned food are examples of such meals that could benefit them as well.
