Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Congenital hypothyroidism causing dwarfism and kidney issues in a cat
By Kakalar, Morteza Ezati et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2026·Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A Case of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Cats: Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Outcomes.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female Persian cat was brought to the vet with signs of chronic kidney failure and stunted growth, including dwarfism and an unusual skull shape. Blood tests revealed anemia and high levels of waste products in her blood, leading to the diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism (a condition where the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones). The vet started her on levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone replacement, and within a week, her kidney function improved and she became more active. This case shows that even though hypothyroidism is rare in cats, it can be an important condition to consider when pets show similar symptoms.
People also search for: cat kidney failure symptoms · Persian cat growth problems · hypothyroidism treatment in cats
Abstract
This report presents a case of congenital hypothyroidism in a 3-year-old female Persian cat, a condition that is seldom encountered in feline patients. The cat was presented with chronic renal failure and stunted growth, exhibiting a unique combination of symptoms, including dwarfism, an abnormal skull shape and open growth plates. A complete blood count (CBC) identified moderate anaemia, while the biochemical analysis showed elevated serum creatinine levels and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Low serum total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations, both before and after the administration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism. Following this, levothyroxine supplementation was initiated. After 1 week of therapy, the cat displayed decreased creatinine levels and increased activity. This case highlights that feline hypothyroidism, although rare, should be considered a differential diagnosis in similar cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42059300/