Jargon buster

Too much jargon? Confused? Don't worry. We have listed some of the terms with their definitions below.

Anti–thyroid medication

These are medicines that reduce the production of the hormones T4 and T3 within the thyroid gland.

Benign

A medical condition which is not life-threatening.

Felimazole®

A drug containing the active ingredient thiamazole which is used to treat hyperthyroidism in the cat.

Gland

A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones.

Hormone

Hormones act as chemical messengers from one cell (or group of cells) to another.

Hyperthyroidism

A common condition in older cats that is caused by the over–production of thyroid hormones.

Inappetance

Lack of appetite.

Malignant

A tumour which is cancerous and can invade adjacent tissues.

Metabolic rate

The speed at which metabolic processes occur in the cells of the body.

T3 (triiodothyronine)

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

T4 (thyroxine)

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

Thiamazole

The active ingredient in Felimazole® that is known to reduce the production of thyroid hormones.

Thyroid gland

A cat's thyroid gland is located in the neck and divided into two lobes. The lobes lie on either side of the windpipe (trachea). The thyroid gland produces hormones.