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Overview:
It is
always prudent to be aware of your cat’s habits as any change can
indicate a potential problem. One such change is a sudden change in your
cat’s appetite (known as polyphagia). Most of us would associate
sickness with
loss of appetite, however an increased appetite can also be a sign
of an underlying problem.
What
are the causes of increased appetite in cats?
Other symptoms:
Depending on the
cause, there may be other symptoms accompanying the increased appetite.
Things to watch for include;
How
will the cause be diagnosed?
Your
veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your cat &
obtain a medical history from you. He will ask if you have noticed any
other changes to your cat. Increased thirst & urination, change in
behavior etc.
Some
tests he may wish to perform may include;
Upon completion of
these tests, more thorough tests may be required, some of which may
include;
-
ACTH stimulation test:
This test measures the ability of the adrenal glands to
respond to a hormone known as
adrenocorticotrophic
hormone (ACTH) which is made in the pituitary gland,
travelling through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands where
it stimulates the secretion of other hormones such as
hydrocortisone from the cortex. The ACTH stimulation test
measures levels of cortisol in the blood before & after an
injection of synthetic ACTH.
-
Low dose dexamethasone suppression test
(also known as
ACTH suppression test):
This test can help distinguish between adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism
(ADH) & pituitary dependent
hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). It measures the response of the
adrenal glands to ACTH. Dexamethasone is a synthetic steroid (similar
to cortisol)
which suppresses ACTH. Dexamethasone is administered &
blood cortisol levels are measured.
Cortisol levels should decrease
in response to the administration of dexamethasone.
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Urine Cortisol:Creatinine
Ratio (UC:Cr): This tests levels of cortisol in the
urine & is measured against levels of creatinine. If the
level is normal,
hyperadrenocorticism can be ruled out.
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fTLI (feline
Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity) - This test measures the
concentrations of trypsin-like proteins in serum.
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TAP (trypsin
activation peptide)
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fPLI (feline
Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity)
- This test measures feline
pancreatic lipase (an enzyme secreted by the pancreas which
breaks down fat) immunoreactivity in serum.
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T3 suppression test: This
involves taking a blood test to check the levels of T3 & T4, 7
oral doses of the thyroid hormone T3 & a blood test after the
hormone was given. In a normal cat, the level of T4 will drop,
in a cat with hyperthyroidism the T4 levels will stay the same
or increase slightly.
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Ultrasound
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X-Rays
How
is it treated?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
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