Use of breath hydrogen measurement to evaluate orocecal transit time in cats before and after treatment for hyperthyroidism. |
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| Authors: | D P Schlesinger S I Rubin M G Papich and D L Hamilton |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. |
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| Abstract: | Orocecal transit time was evaluated in 13 cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Transit was determined by measuring the change in breath hydrogen and methane concentrations following oral administration of a nonabsorbable carbohydrate (lactulose). Transit times before and three to four weeks after treatment of the hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine were compared. There was a significant prolongation of transit time, as determined by a change in hydrogen concentration, following correction of the hyperthyroidism (p = 0.034). Average transit times and standard errors were 27.7 +/- 3.7 minutes before treatment and 56.5 +/- 12.1 minutes after treatment. Methane was not detected in any of the samples. Hyperthyroidism appears to be associated with an accelerated small intestinal transit time in cats. |
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