Idiopathic
If a condition or disease is called “idiopathic”, it means that the cause of the condition/disease is unknown or uncertain. Usually, pets can only be diagnosed with an idiopathic condition when known causes are ruled out. For example, cats can suffer from ‘idiopathic cystitis’, which means that the bladder inflammation is of unknown cause – but despite being very common, a vet can only decide this is the case if they’ve ruled out other causes of cystitis, like urine infections.
Treatment of idiopathic conditions in pets is usually aimed at relieving or managing the clinical signs of the disease.
Written by:
Dr Jnanee Krishnasamy
Dr Jnanee is a small animal veterinarian. She was born in sunny Singapore and spent her formative years there, before studying veterinary medicine at Massey University. Since graduating from vet school, Dr Jnanee has worked in a variety of settings that include private practice, shelter medicine, and veterinary telemedicine. Due to her varied experiences, she is well-informed on many aspects of the veterinary industry!
Latest posts by Dr Jnanee Krishnasamy BVSc (see all)