02/25/2024
Congenital Hypothyroidism in Kittens is underdiagnosed and treated. Most often a kitten that actually has a low Hypothyroid will be diagnosed as having Cerebellar Hypoplasia. The symptoms of CH below are only similar to Hypothyroidism.
Plus a definitive diagnosis of CH cannot be achieved so most vets just decide that the symptoms point toward CH. “Cerebellar hypoplasia cannot be detected using routine laboratory tests. In some cases, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may show that the kitten has a smaller than normal cerebellum.”
Vets don’t do the simple thyroid panel because congenital hypothyroidism has been deemed rare - mainly because it is so hard to get a vet to do the simple thyroid panel.
So Hypo which is easily treated, is often misdiagnosed as CH, which is untreatable.
Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats Symptoms:
* The head has a fine tremor (trembling). Unlike a cat with vestibular ataxia, the cerebellar hypoplasia cat doesn't keep their head tilted.
* The eyes have a fine tremor. You may not notice it, but your veterinarian may find it when examining the eyes.
* Your cat isn't weak but is uncoordinated and imbalanced. Not all cerebellar hypoplasia cats are alike. Some walk with a drunken gait (leading to the name wobbly cat), while others are unable to get around.
* Your cat can't maintain balance while standing. You will see them using a wide-based posture. Swaying and staggering while stationary are common.
* Feeding difficulty because their heads bob up and down. This becomes apparent at weaning.
* Intention tremor. This trembling becomes apparent when your cat is preparing for some movement — bending down to eat or drink or grabbing a toy.
Symptoms of Congenital Hypothyroidism include constipation, lethargy, hind leg weakness or swimmers syndrome, dental issues, prolapse and small size for their age. Both conditions share some symptoms, including occasional seizures. Kittens with Congenital Hypothyroidism may exhibit head bobbing due to their slow metabolism, leading to decreased appetite and extreme lethargy - basically they have muscle weakness and are always on the verge of falling asleep.
