New research shows that some surprisingly common household items can pose a serious danger for your feline.
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine-related disease in senior cats.
Many of you have heard me say “the fire retardants used on carpet and upholstery are thyroid disruptors and may be causing hyperthyroidism in cats”. In the 70s, (when both feline and female thyroid issues began to spike) household flame retardants were introduced that contained PBDEs, which were later linked to feline hyperthyroidism.
But the new flame retardants introduced in 2004 (organophosphate esters – OPEs, called TDCIPPs) hadn’t been looked at until now. The American Chemical Society published a study that found cats with hyperthyroidism had more exposure to TDCIPP, and non-hyperthroid cats who had more exposure to TDCIPP had higher concentrations of a hormone that's elevated in hyperthyroidism.
They further found that higher TDCIPP exposures were linked with air-freshener use, houses built since 2005, and cats that nap on upholstered furniture.
Know what's in your products and understand the impact it could potentially have on your family!
Here is a link to the study: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.est.9b02226?rand=7mzk651p
Studies have linked certain spices, such as turmeric, to a reduced frequency of thyroid disease, including hyperthyroidism. Many of the natural pet thyroid support products contain turmeric.
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