pop top cans and hyperthyroidism

moggiegirl

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How concerned should we be about pop top cans and hyperthyroidism? It's hard to find cans that are not pop-top and how seriously should we take this scare? What percentage of all cats get this disease and if it's only 2 percent according to an About.com article on the internet then I seriously doubt that 98% of all cats who are not going to get this are not eating from pop top cans. Still since this info came out I've been worried. I hope I'm not predisposing my cats to the disease.
 

sharky

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Somewhere there is a study that states pop tops on cans can CONTRIBUTE to an increase in Hyperthyroidism.... I have talked to a few vets and all dissmissed it ... but...
 

prettyboy

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thanks sharky but i totally don't get that.

i can't begin to imagine why the way you open up a can would
contribute to anything like a disease ?

sounds bizarre to me.

now i have to go do a search lol because this is wild !
 

beandip

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Originally Posted by Prettyboy

thanks sharky but i totally don't get that.

i can't begin to imagine why the way you open up a can would
contribute to anything like a disease ?

sounds bizarre to me.

now i have to go do a search lol because this is wild !
I could be remembering things wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the theory has something to do with how the cans are sealed, to allow for the pop top.

Personally, I think they are looking for anything different that our cats have been consuming for the past ~20 years or so, since hyperthyroidism has been found in cats.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by beandip

I could be remembering things wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the theory has something to do with how the cans are sealed, to allow for the pop top.

Personally, I think they are looking for anything different that our cats have been consuming for the past ~20 years or so, since hyperthyroidism has been found in cats.
Hummm wonder if they have thought of just the fact it is easier to diagnois now
 

prettyboy

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beandip

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Oh goodness.


Here we go again with the dry food / wet food debate
. I'm sorry but if I avoided every single thing that could possibly be harmful to my cats...they'd have to starve!

from http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=516

There is a strong correlation between eating canned food and developing hyperthyroidism later in life; in fact, cats who eat only canned foods from "pop-top" type cans have five times the risk of developing hyperthryoidism relative to cats who eat only dry food.
I don't much care for how it's stated, like a well founded statistic. Ugggggghhhh.

If dry food is so great, maybe I should start eating it.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by beandip

Oh goodness.


Here we go again with the dry food / wet food debate
. I'm sorry but if I avoided every single thing that could possibly be harmful to my cats...they'd have to starve!

from http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=516



I don't much care for how it's stated, like a well founded statistic. Ugggggghhhh.

If dry food is so great, maybe I should start eating it.
If you do just drink lots and lots of water
 

beandip

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Originally Posted by sharky

If you do just drink lots and lots of water
Oh yes, or else I might get a UTI and start peeing innappropriately.


This one is even more presumptuous, blaming "canned food" and "using cat litter".

From http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/stortz/index.php

Proposed risk factors for the development of hyperthyroidism include cats eating canned food or using cat litter, as well as environmental factors such as exposure to other goitrogenic compounds including phthalates.
HOWEVER, back towards the beginning of the same article, they make a statement that makes much more sense to me.


The increased frequency of diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism can be attributed to increased clinical awareness of the disease, improved diagnostic testing, an increasing feline population, increased lifespan of pet cats, and the fact that more owners seek veterinary aid for their pets.
Ok, sorry I got a little emotional
but this dry food/wet food controversy has become a little pet peeve of mine.
 

mzjazz2u

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I think we had another thread on this subject. I read the full study and it says in the conclusion that the pop tops MAY be a contributing factor. I've been meaning to go talk to the vet pathologist at my lab I work at but haven't h ad time yet. Maybe I'll try to today. But others are right. It's the chemical/plastic seal they use to make the top a pop top can. And when you open it, the seal is broken and some of it sluffs off into the food. Supposedly. Maybe.
 

beandip

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I can accept that theory. And thanks for looking into it. I was just a little bothered by those articles that weren't written very objectively, IMO. They make all canned food sound like it's poisoned or something.

Just a rant. *please excuse me*
 

strange_wings

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Well there's pouches and the wet foods that come in little cups.
"goitrogenic compounds" bit makes some sense, I have to carefully balance what veggies I feed my turtles to avoid too much goitrogens.

Reminds me a bit of how it's said aluminum in cans can cause/contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
 

jenny82

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

Well there's pouches and the wet foods that come in little cups.
Also I'm feeding 12 oz Wellness cans right now which are not pop top.
 

cdubbie

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"The increased frequency of diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism can be attributed to increased clinical awareness of the disease, improved diagnostic testing, an increasing feline population, increased lifespan of pet cats, and the fact that more owners seek veterinary aid for their pets. "
I would think this would more be the reason for increased hyperthyroidism.
My elderly cat got it at age 17 or so...and the vet said it was v. common in elderly cats. Oh, and she ate dry her whole life until after the hyperthyroid dx...b/c she was losing weight and we wanted to fatten her up! And she lived to be 22....but would have died years soon if she was not treated.

It like breast cancer stats we hear: You have a 1 in 9 chance of getting - egads!! What they dont tell you...."...if you live to be like 102 years old and nothing else kills you first". Well duh! The longer you live more likely something will evenutally come around and kill you! :rolleyes
 
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