Still waiting ....

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I figured I should probably update you guys that I am still waiting for the results of the IGF-1 blood test.
The vet called yesterday and said that she only got the LDDST results so far, and that it "fits with the picture of Cushing's." I didn't ask the exact values or anything. However, if the IGF-1 is positive, it more likely means Acromegaly, since according to her, the LDDST can be elevated in acro cats. I didn't ask more about it, I trust what she's saying - she has been an IM vet for 25 years.

I called today and they said the results for the IGF test still aren't back . Again, based on the symptoms I would expect it to be negative, but Acro seems to have a better prognosis in cats than Cushing's so.... who knows. I just want the lab work to come back already!

I am feeling a little more optimistic though about Cushing's because a. Frosty is doing well right now, he is back to his old self again, caterwauling and begging for food, eating well, and seems happy. He did NOT like the onesie, he bit me kind of hard a few times and growled at me while I was putting it on, but now he looks ADORABLE and doesn't seem to mind it at all. I posted some pics in the general forum under my post again cat pee in the car.

and b. I guess I kind of accepted the likelihood of Frosty having Cushing's and we do have a treatment plan (with the medication) if that's what it is... so I am not as upset as I was last weekend. I hope he continues to do well and be happy.

His wound is still closed, and there hasn't been any new ones that I know of, so that's good news. I just hope, like I said, the medication will buy him a couple of years and he will be a happy cat. He's a good boy. He was a star at the vet, everyone loved him because of how social he was with everyone who passed by his cage. MY BABY

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Look at these guys

 

[Wendy&Neko]

The IGF-1 test is only run once a week at MSU, on Wednesdays, results done on Friday. You might get the results on Friday, or later, depending on when the vet gives the information to you.

Great news that the wound has closed. The onesie is doing it's job. Glad to hear he's feeling good.

 

[Amanda and a Loudogg]

Look at these guys

He almost looks like a brand-spanking new cat in those pictures! He looked soo grumpy in those first pics, but I'm glad he's decided it's okay and that he's doing well. Do you have any pics of him in his t-shirt? Here's hoping you get those results Friday ASAP!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Ohhh luv that second pic!
Take a peek here, it will bring you luck. Promise!

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Ohhh luv that second pic!
View attachment 36369

They are best friends.

He almost looks like a brand-spanking new cat in those pictures! He looked soo grumpy in those first pics, but I'm glad he's decided it's okay and that he's doing well. Do you have any pics of him in his t-shirt

Unfortunately I didn’t take any good ones. He will be wearing it next week while I’m washing the onesie, I’ll be sure to post some then.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I wish I had taken hundreds more which is why I keep posting the same pics over and over.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

So the vet’s office called and said it can take the IGF-1 test 10-14 days to come back... what the heck?! I was hoping it might be back tomorrow @Wendy&Neko , do they mail it or something? Haha... it was nice of them to call and let me know though, I’m guessing the vet called the lab and that’s what thy told them. She’s very good, I like her. It’s a breath of fresh air to finally deal with a specialist. No offense to regular vets, but the ones at the practice I went to really didn’t know much of anything about any of my pets issues. I wish they suggested I take Frostu to an IM to manage his diabetes when they said they weren’t familiar with Lantus. Instead he suggested changing to prozinc...

But hindsight is 20/20 i guess. I don’t like to talk badly about health professionals being one myself, but i just feel much more confident in the IM doctor we are dealing with. Hoping for results soon...

I’m going for a run finally for the first time since all of this happened (almost 2 weeks!) hopefully it will be refreshing.

 

[Amanda and a Loudogg]

So the vet’s office called and said it can take the IGF-1 test 10-14 days to come back... what the heck?! I was hoping it might be back tomorrow @Wendy&Neko , do they mail it or something? Haha... it was nice of them to call and let me know though, I’m guessing the vet called the lab and that’s what thy told them. She’s very good, I like her. It’s a breath of fresh air to finally deal with a specialist. No offense to regular vets, but the ones at the practice I went to really didn’t know much of anything about any of my pets issues. I wish they suggested I take Frostu to an IM to manage his diabetes when they said they weren’t familiar with Lantus. Instead he suggested changing to prozinc...

But hindsight is 20/20 i guess. I don’t like to talk badly about health professionals being one myself, but i just feel much more confident in the IM doctor we are dealing with. Hoping for results soon...

I’m going for a run finally for the first time since all of this happened (almost 2 weeks!) hopefully it will be refreshing.

They send the IGF-1 test to the Michigan State University (MSU) Vet Lab. They run the test on Wednesdays and usually have results on Friday, as far as I'm aware. I wonder when they sent the specimen out... you'd have to wait until next week if they didn't receive it at MSU in time for the Wednesday run. I hope your run is fantastic!! (Which kind of seems like an oxymoron to a couch potato like me, haha! )

 

[Olive & Paula]

I'm also waiting for IGF results. Mine should have made it in yesterday's run. But I don't think my vet is in office tomorrow and the drs only give out results on their own patients. I might have to wait until Tuesday for results.

I know how anxious you are. Lots of chocolate helps.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I had bad timing on my blood draw for the IGF-1 test result. Plus it had to ship across the border from the west coast. I just missed the cutoff and got to wait an extra week. Fortunately my vet worked the weekend so I got the results a couple days earlier than 14 days. MSU does email the results to the vet when they are ready.

I have lost track of the number of people who found out their vet's hadn't even sent the sample in yet, though sounds like your IM vet is on the ball.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I'm also waiting for IGF results. Mine should have made it in yesterday's run. But I don't think my vet is in office tomorrow and the drs only give out results on their own patients. I might have to wait until Tuesday for results.

I know how anxious you are. Lots of chocolate helps.

Aww, man! Were you the one who adopted the kitty just recently and it was driven from Canada by volunteers? I’m so sorry your new baby is having so many problems (reading your signature). I’m kind of in a similar boat - adopted him knowing he was diabetic, and turns out this was just the tip of the iceberg. Ugh. I guess no one said it was easy to rescue cats. Although I hear they do have 9 lives... so hoping for the best for both of them! (Like my vet said when I asked her about the prognosis for Frosty... she said “well, better than if he was still running around Central Park.” )

 

[Olive & Paula]

Aww, man! Were you the one who adopted the kitty just recently and it was driven from Canada by volunteers? I’m so sorry your new baby is having so many problems (reading your signature). I’m kind of in a similar boat - adopted him knowing he was diabetic, and turns out this was just the tip of the iceberg. Ugh. I guess no one said it was easy to rescue cats. Although I hear they do have 9 lives... so hoping for the best for both of them! (Like my vet said when I asked her about the prognosis for Frosty... she said “well, better than if he was still running around Central Park.” )

Yes that's us. You never know what's in store whether it's a rescue, shelter, stray, even from breeder. I took in my parents cat that I had know 16 of his 18 yrs. He had many medical issues that were never diagnosed until I took him. Olive exhibited so many of his traits I started testing her immediately. So far though I think we've been lucky as everything is in early stage or negative. Vet blundered with the IAA though so I'm waiting to see what acro is. When I schedule her for the dental I will have them do it then. Her visit last week was so traumatizing for her.

Good luck with your test. Hopefully we both hear tomorrow.

 

[JeffJ]

Theresa and I love those pajama pics - he is so cute, especially with the little drooler. Yes, the waiting game for IGF-1.

I think most acros require more insulin. Frosty could have it. Basically with acromegaly the insulin demand goes up because the insulin is trying to displace the IGF-1 at the cell level. A losing battle really since the IGF-1 still damages the body.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I hope your run is fantastic!! (Which kind of seems like an oxymoron to a couch potato like me, haha! )

exercise keeps me (semi) sane. But then again, so does Nutella

My sister and I are thinking of doing a 5K where they give u a donut after each mile HAHAHAH... good way to put on some weight while also running. I really hope we end up doing it because it sounds amazing. I have a bad feeling it might take me an hour to “run” those 3 miles LOL

 

[Amanda and a Loudogg]

exercise keeps me (semi) sane. But then again, so does Nutella

My sister and I are thinking of doing a 5K where they give u a donut after each mile HAHAHAH... good way to put on some weight while also running. I really hope we end up doing it because it sounds amazing. I have a bad feeling it might take me an hour to “run” those 3 miles LOL

That sounds AWESOME! I'm shocked that idea hasn't come here!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Floyd just got his IGF-1 test results. You should hear soon.

My sister and I are thinking of doing a 5K where they give u a donut after each mile

I row in a cove that has a little cafe that is famous for it's donuts (just ask Kate Winslet). We go there after a lot of our workouts. We try NOT to go for the donuts. The rowing club across the inlet occasionally comes over for donut runs. They sure are great motivators!

 

[Olive & Paula]

@Ana and Frosty did you get your results? Olive is positive even if doctor says no.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

He looks so adorable in his onesie! My civvie is a very athletic and crazy active cat, she ripped her internal stiches from her spay many years ago, despite being crate bound and wearing a cone of shame that she was able to wiggle out of every variety of. Vet had to get creative and wrapped her whole mid section in bandages and then I put a dog sweater on her over it to keep her from getting at everything. She hated it at first, but got used to it, she doesn’t even need sweaters anymore but now enjoys wearing them when it’s cold! I’m sure Frosty will get accustomed to his new wardrobe and rock all the stylish choices you find for him.

I’m glad you’re feeling less overwhelmed with the (unofficial) diagnosis and I hope you get your results today.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

@Ana and Frosty did you get your results? Olive is positive even if doctor says no.

No, I did not! Vet didn't call, and since they told me yesterday 10-14 days, I didn't call them. What was Olive's level??
I guess it will probably come next week. Or maybe the doctor is off for the weekend. If I don't hear by next Friday, I'll call them.

Who is Floyd, and I'm guessing it's positive? @Wendy&Neko . Are they going to do RT? I have to find their post.

Does anyone have pet insurance by the way? It's too late for Frosty obviously, but I feel like I should get it for my other pets.

 

[Olive & Paula]

No, I did not! Vet didn't call, and since they told me yesterday 10-14 days, I didn't call them. What was Olive's level??
I guess it will probably come next week. Or maybe the doctor is off for the weekend. If I don't hear by next Friday, I'll call them.

Who is Floyd, and I'm guessing it's positive? @Wendy&Neko . Are they going to do RT? I have to find their post.

Does anyone have pet insurance by the way? It's too late for Frosty obviously, but I feel like I should get it for my other pets.

Olive was 389. And the vet says it's not acro can you believe that!!!!! No insurance here. It costs me more for insurance than just paying when I need to. Tripper and Tux are the only ones without preconditions.

 

[Beenie (GA)]

Does anyone have pet insurance by the way? It's too late for Frosty obviously, but I feel like I should get it for my other pets.

Yes!! I have Embrace Pet Insurance and they are great. They do offer different plans. What we have covers 80% of everything after a $200 deductible. For years I kept shelling out monthly premiums and then one day Beenie got FD. It covered insulin, lancets, test strips...EVERYTHING!! Now my civvie Ming has had his medical issues and I don't bat an eyelash when they wanted to do a CT scan for $2k. Live in the burbs outside nyc so the prices, as you know, are ridiculous. I was actually floored what Sarah paid for Pig's SRT...almost the same as what we paid for one stinking CT scan. Even took the other civvie, Buddy, who had an issue with his eye to a Ophthalmologist, no referral needed. I highly recommend Embrace.
https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/

I hope you get you're test results soon. I hated waiting and just wanted to know

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

For years I kept shelling out monthly premiums and then one day Beenie got FD. It covered insulin, lancets, test strips...EVERYTHING!!

Wow, that's amazing! Yes, as soon as things with Frosty calm down a little (like when we finally have a diagnosis and treatment plan) I will probably sign my other pets up.
I don't think it would have helped with Frosty even if I got it when I first adopted him, because technically his diabetes are a SYMPTOM of either Cushing's or Acromegaly, so I am sure the insurance company would have refused to pay for these tests... but I think that they probably would have covered the ER visit, which would have been nice.
Oh well. I'll see how much it costs, if it's not too expensive I could probably get it for him as well in case other issues arise along the way not related to his diagnoses.
Yes, the waiting does suck, especially since his sugars are so high and he started this new thing of peeing on the dining room table... I know it's because his sugars are out of control and he is also really angry that he's hungry all the time and we aren't feeding him every 5 seconds, but still. I wish we could have started his treatment already. As I said, I would be SHOCKED if it was Acro, considering he's so skinny and losing weight. He looks smaller now than he did when I first got him, I just compared his pictures this morning.

Acro would also be much more expensive to treat, although a better prognosis. I don't know. I really think he's Cushing's. Hopefully with our love and care he will do better than some of the other cats with this disease that I read about? (Not here obviously). Time will tell...

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Olive was 389. And the vet says it's not acro can you believe that!!!!! No insurance here. It costs me more for insurance than just paying when I need to. Tripper and Tux are the only ones without preconditions.

Keep us posted on what you end up doing, Paula! You are amazing for saving him, and props to you for handling all his medical issues so calmly, haha. I was definitely freaking out at first. But not much you can really do... except empty the savings account, of course

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Yes, the waiting does suck, especially since his sugars are so high

I'm glad you increased his dose Ana. With cats who have high dose conditions, you don't want to sit on a dose very long if it's not giving you numbers you want. The nature of resistance is that it changes over time. Even holding a dose for 7 days can be too much and cause glucose toxicity to develop.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Although I hear they do have 9 lives

Ha! Most myths are based on actual fact. This is Leroy who went out for a walk with me on his birthday. This was his 23rd.
Hit by a car or kicked by someone and broke his jaw, fell out a 3rd floor window into a snowbank, lived through an F5 tornado, 4 hour flight to his new home.....

 

[Olive & Paula]

Keep us posted on what you end up doing, Paula! You are amazing for saving him, and props to you for handling all his medical issues so calmly, haha. I was definitely freaking out at first. But not much you can really do... except empty the savings account, of course

Calmly is not the word I would use. I'm use to FD, HCM, p'titis, even hypos. But acro and insulin resistance even though no test to confirm that is all new ball game. And knowing she has a another tumor that may or may not rupture without any warning and take her instantly I'm afraid of being out of her sight for a minute. If I don't hear her sounds I'm looking to make sure she's breathing. Calm, no way, on constant alert, pins and needles.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

If I don't hear her sounds I'm looking to make sure she's breathing.

This is a bit morbid but it might help someone. When our dog was misdiagnosed we were kind of waiting for her to drop at any moment.
If you've got a dog or cat that goes into a deep sleep and you don't want to get hysterical lift a lip and gently depress the gums. They should return to pink in a few seconds. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I'm glad you increased his dose Ana. With cats who have high dose conditions, you don't want to sit on a dose very long if it's not giving you numbers you want. The nature of resistance is that it changes over time. Even holding a dose for 7 days can be too much and cause glucose toxicity to develop.

Yeah, the reason I was hesitant to go back to up 2.75 is bc he went down to 78 on that dose, and that’s too low for SLGS. And the vet was concerned that maybe I skipped over a good dose while I was increasing his insulin and he was constantly bouncing. I don’t even know... now he’s just stuck in the 300s regardless of dose.

I also don’t wanna go up too much if we are going to start Vetoryl, so that he doesn’t bottom out when it starts working. But I think going to 2.75 right now is reasonable and HOPEFULLY we will get results back on Friday, and if it’s negative start vetoryl saturday??

I’ll do another curve tomorrow on the 2.75 to see if maybe this is a bounce and he went lower last night. I just can’t stay up past like 9-10 so I can’t test him late enough to see if maybe the dose works overnight and he’s bouncing during the day. It looked promising at +3 last night even if it was the high 200s, I wish I could have gotten a +6 but I was fast asleep until almost 2 am. Sigh...

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Calmly is not the word I would use. I'm use to FD, HCM, p'titis, even hypos. But acro and insulin resistance even though no test to confirm that is all new ball game. And knowing she has a another tumor that may or may not rupture without any warning and take her instantly I'm afraid of being out of her sight for a minute. If I don't hear her sounds I'm looking to make sure she's breathing. Calm, no way, on constant alert, pins and needles.

I’m sorry I guess you SEEMED calm and collected, at least in your posts. Whenever I get home and Frosty doesn’t greet me I freak out, and start yelling his name but eventually he comes down. He’s not as fast in the onesie as he was without it. I’m gonna change him into his shirt tonight to wash it, so maybe he will be faster running down the stairs and I don’t have to have a heart attack every time I get home.

Man, these cats are really stressfull...

 

[Olive & Paula]

I’m sorry I guess you SEEMED calm and collected, at least in your posts. Whenever I get home and Frosty doesn’t greet me I freak out, and start yelling his name but eventually he comes down. He’s not as fast in the onesie as he was without it. I’m gonna change him into his shirt tonight to wash it, so maybe he will be faster running down the stairs and I don’t have to have a heart attack every time I get home.

Man, these cats are really stressfull...

She is usually helping me post. Right now she is sound asleep on other chair next to me. Like I said always in my sight.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

With insulin resistance, what a cat did on a dose over two weeks ago is ancient history. For the overnight tests, drink a large glass of water just before bed. Then test when you have to get up. Especially if his +2 or 3 is down quite a bit from preshot.

I agree it's a good idea to be cautious around vetoryl. In the mean time it would be nice to go easy on his kidneys.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

With insulin resistance, what a cat did on a dose over two weeks ago is ancient history. For the overnight tests, drink a large glass of water just before bed. Then test when you have to get up. Especially if his +2 or 3 is down quite a bit from preshot.

I agree it's a good idea to be cautious around vetoryl. In the mean time it would be nice to go easy on his kidneys.

Right, but I decreased the dose from 2.75 to 2.5 because of the 78, and then we stayed on 2.5 last week bc of all the stress with th vet visits, w d the vet was kinda like, if his skin is this fragile don’t test so much. I did mention the kidneys but she basically said that 2 weeks isn’t rly gonna make a difference and if he’s got one of these metabolic diseases I will likely not get him controlled anyway. So idk. I just want these damn results already.

Would u suggest going up to 3 units? Or should I give him a week on 2.75 and see how it goes?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Stick with 2.75 for now, see what the week brings.

 

[Olive & Paula]

Don't take the vet saying you won't get him controlled anyway to heart. They have no way of knowing. For Smokey being long term I strived for keeping him under renal threshold, that alone was not easy for him. I thought with Olive being newly dx remission would be possible. But now with her other issues I'm thinking at least being in the blues all the time will be great. Well regulated I can strive for with her.

Well dang if she is proving me wrong. She is surfing green all day so far. My fingers are crossed for PMPS lower than pink. I'm learning her feeding times and amount seem to really make a difference with her.

Keep working the protocol. The rollercoaster days eventually stop, longer for some but they do.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Cats with high dose conditions can be more complicated, but regulation is possible. It took Neko over a year to drop red from her regular rotation. Both Frosty and Olive have a great caregivers.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Don't take the vet saying you won't get him controlled anyway to heart. They have no way of knowing. For Smokey being long term I strived for keeping him under renal threshold, that alone was not easy for him. I thought with Olive being newly dx remission would be possible. But now with her other issues I'm thinking at least being in the blues all the time will be great. Well regulated I can strive for with her.

Well dang if she is proving me wrong. She is surfing green all day so far. My fingers are crossed for PMPS lower than pink. I'm learning her feeding times and amount seem to really make a difference with her.

Keep working the protocol. The rollercoaster days eventually stop, longer for some but they do.

Lol but she’s right. I’ve been killing my self trying to get him controlled and look at his spreadsheet. It won’t happen without treating the underlying condition. It doesn’t make sense trying anymore, it’s just extra stress while we can be enjoying each other’s company instead. At least in frosty’s case it won’t happen. Like u guys always say, every cat is different!

And if we are gonna start vetoryl I don’t wanna rack up the dose and cause him to go low once he starts treatment.thays why I didn’t touch the dose last week. We all thought we were getting results last week, so didn’t make sense to mess with the dose . Even the. Vet didn’t know it was gonna take 2 weeks. It is what it is

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

On another note, I would really like to see one of the Cushing’s cats SS but when I tried opening one of them it wasn’t available anymore.

 

[Olive & Paula]

Was cushings confirmed?

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Was cushings confirmed?

His LDDST was positive but she said if IGF-1 is positive then it’s acro. I would be shocked. He’s a textbook picture of cushing’s.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I can’t rememeber who wanted to see Frosty in his shirt, but here it is. I also posted more pics of him on my kitty Instagram . For those of you who have an Instagram please follow us!

Also,

That sounds AWESOME! I'm shocked that idea hasn't come here!

I just wanted to let you know that i ended up singing up for that 5K! It’s in 2 weeks... can’t wait.

 

[Amanda and a Loudogg]

I can’t rememeber who wanted to see Frosty in his shirt, but here it is. I also posted more pics of him on my kitty Instagram . For those of you who have an Instagram please follow us!

SOOOOO ADORABLE!!! I can't even...

Also,

I just wanted to let you know that i ended up singing up for that 5K! It’s in 2 weeks... can’t wait.

That's awesome! I can't wait to hear how it goes!

 

[Olive & Paula]

Isn't he dapper!!!!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Which Cushing's kitty SS did you want to see?

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

On another note, I would really like to see one of the Cushing’s cats SS but when I tried opening one of them it wasn’t available anymore.

One of the most detailed ones is from Rose's Zoey...she made a lot of detailed comments. Zoey was put on trilostane, however the skin tears were already quite bad by this time.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZSx88fvA4ku4mzZA4JZpfAtSs-lEQV9wPqKoaWVN4t0/pubhtml


I am including a few of Tuxie's earlier sheets. They were originally in sections as I did not started a spreadsheet for the first few months

First sheet a few weeks after diagnosis

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zjLCy1Y3LgvEsa3TU22TfmUUru9Ekr55QBrfBUpRO1Q/edit#gid=5

Second sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eL-wdSvWyV5Z4ZIeSYbEP0WupKTcb4NuvahUQdVUcS8/edit#gid=5

Other sheets are in my signature

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Summer is a recent Cushing's kitty here who was experiencing skin tearing this spring. Summer's SS. We haven't heard from her for a while, but I understand the caregiver had some family issues.

Nuggie's SS - it's been a while since they posted, but I just saw they started vetoryl.

Purrdy SS - He was never tested for Cushings, but was neg for acro and showed symptoms for Cushings (in Australia). He was untreated for Cushings. It was something else that got him.

Gem SS - Posting of FDMB just as I started, I just remember she was very fragile. Even testing could cause skin problems. Started trilostane (vetoryl).

There have been some others, but I couldn't find the spreadsheets.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

@Wendy&Neko and @Tuxedo Mom thank you so much for this. That was actually very helpful. I wanted to see 2 things - the trend of BG and bouncing - lots of kitties had blacks and reds despite dropping lower during the day, and also the dose they required. Wow, I didn't realize the dose could be as high as teens with Cushing's too... I am definitely going to be super conservative right now since we might be starting the Vetoryl, since I am scared of possible hypos on that drug from everything I heard here. But it definitely made me feel better because a lot of those SS, esp in the beginning, look like Frosty's.

It's frustrating - today at +4 even on the 2.75 dose he's still in the 300s. Yesterday he was high all day and nights. Ugh. He is peeing everywhere and that's also adding to the frustration. Poor guy. </3 I hope we get some answers this week so he can be on the way to better health.

His skin is still the same, the glued scab is in place and hair isn't growing around it as I would expect. He finished his abx today. He doesn't mind the clothing once it's on. Putting them on and taking them off is still a struggle - he gets super angry, and bites /growls. Otherwise he's a sweet cat. Poor guy. I only change it once a week to wash them.

Thanks again, everyone. Happy Memorial Day. I will post updates as soon as I hear from the vet.

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

His skin is still the same, the glued scab is in place and hair isn't growing around it as I would expect.

It is good that the skin is still holding in place. As far as hair growth, with Cushing's there often is little or no hair regrowth with Cushing's. Tuxie was shaved for his first ultrasound and after almost 2 1/2 years he had never regrown the hair.

Good luck with the vetoryl. Just make sure that you are very cautious about having the ACTH testing done regularly...especially in the beginning.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

It is good that the skin is still holding in place. As far as hair growth, with Cushing's there often is little or no hair regrowth with Cushing's. Tuxie was shaved for his first ultrasound and after almost 2 1/2 years he had never regrown the hair.

Good luck with the vetoryl. Just make sure that you are very cautious about having the ACTH testing done regularly...especially in the beginning.

Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it to grow for that reason.

Would I have to leave him there all day for every test? That would really suck.

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it to grow for that reason.

Would I have to leave him there all day for every test? That would really suck.

This article has protocols for kitties and dogs for the ACTH testing.

http://cms2.netnews.cz/files/attachments/67030/22815-What-is-the-Best-Protocol-for-ACTH-test.pdf

One thing I am not sure of is food intake before the test. With dogs it is important that they eat with the medication the day of the test:

"With trilostane, it’s extremely important to give the morning medication with food, and then start the ACTH stimulation test 3 to 4 hours later. Fasting these dogs on the morning in which the ACTH stimulation test is scheduled should be avoided since it invalidates the test results. When a dog ‘s food is withheld, the absorption of trilostane from the gastrointestinal tract is decreased. This leads to low circulating levels of trilostane, resulting in little to no inhibition of adrenocortical synthesis. Therefore, serum cortisol values will higher when the drug is given in a fasted state than when it is given with food. "

I don't know if this also applies with kitties?????

Basically the ACTH test is comprised of a blood test before giving the ACTH drug . Then the drug is given:

"In cats, its best to administer the Cortrosyn IV, because the adrenocortical response is more consistent and the peak is higher. Given subcutaneously, the Cortrosyn is not well absorbed in cats. In addition, giving Cortrosyn by the IM route is painful for cats and should be avoided. "


Another blood sample is done one hour after the ACTH drug was administered. So it would not be an all day procedure, but if timed right it should be able to do the whole procedure within about or less than 1 1/2 hours.

Another article on ACTH testing in both dogs and kitties. Unfortunately the full article has to be purchased. I like it because ot has the reference range for kitties:

"
Interpretation of post-ACTH cortisol concentration in cats:

Less than 2 µg/dl: hypoadrenocorticism

Less than 5 µg/dl: suggestive of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism

5 to 15 µg/dl: normal

15 to 20 µg/dl: suggestive of spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism

Greater than 20 µg/dl: strongly suggestive of spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism

To convert µg/dl to nmol/L, multiply by 27.59."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topic...and-veterinary-medicine/acth-stimulation-test