? 05/07 Mowgli IGF-1 of 421

[Jaime & Mowgli]

Hello all,

We just received Mowgli's results for IGF-1 and it turns out that he is in fact an Acro cat

Fortunately, it seems like our new vet is open to looking at medication options for Mowgli, but he has never done it so he said I can email him any information I have. I figured a good place to start would be to send him information on the use of Cabergoline.

Can anyone point me to where I can find this information? Also, does your vet typically order the Cabergoline for you or does he hand you a prescription?

@Wendy&Neko

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Sorry to hear the news. Though now you have an answer for his dose. Most important thing someone said to me at this point - Mowgli doesn't know any different, he's still the same sweet cat he was before the news.

Did you get any test results for IAA?

As for cabergoline - here's a place to start. I think most people get it compounded.
Cabergoline as a possible treatment for acrocats: discussion

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Also, does your vet typically order the Cabergoline for you or does he hand you a prescription?

My vet called several of the compounding pharmacies and found that Wedgewood was the least expensive. My vet then called in the prescription to them. It is compounded in aan oil. suspension. I asked for the dose to be about 1/4 to 1/2 ml so that determined the concentration. It can be flavored with different flavors. The said that marshmallow was popular so I selected. I get a two month supply for about $180

 

[Jaime & Mowgli]

I apologize for the delayed response. I thought I responded to you and apparently left the message half written...

Sorry to hear the news. Though now you have an answer for his dose. Most important thing someone said to me at this point - Mowgli doesn't know any different, he's still the same sweet cat he was before the news.

Thank you for your support! I think I slowly made peace with this as a possible diagnosis as Mowgli's insulin dose crept up. I find that I quickly turned to my engineer mindset of trying to figure out the best possible solution. In a weird way thinking of all the treatment options is preventing me from sulking or getting down.

Originally I thought that Cabergoline should be our primary treatment option, but I find myself considering SRT the more I think about it. I have discussed it with my siblings and we are all on board splitting the cost as long as it's not upwards of $10k. However, I would like your take on SRT since I see that you had it done twice. What kind of results can we expect from SRT? Reduced insulin dose or remission? Do the benefits extend to preventing other effects of acro, such as cardiomyopathy? What sort of quality of life improvements can be expected?

Lastly, have you heard of anyone having SRT done with the Carlsbad VCA office in southern California? Their website lists SRT with the use of TruBeam or Cyberknife technologies. I have heard of Colorado State University offering SRT as well. Any other vets you would suggest considering? What is the latest price that you have heard someone be quoted for SRT?

 

[Jaime & Mowgli]

Did you get any test results for IAA?

Actually we didn't end up getting results for IAA... Since the vet's preferred diagnostics lab only showed IGF-1 as a test option and not IAA, the vet decided that he would be okay with me mailing a sample to MSU directly to test for IAA. I did that but got a call from MSU soon after saying that they needed to have the sample spun down and therefore couldn't run the test. I was upset momentarily but soon after got the results for IGF-1 and was relieved to get some sort of diagnosis. We may end up sending another sample for IAA testing down the road but I won't make another vet appointment just for that considering Mowgli ends up needing sedation for blood draws.

BTW, the results for IGF-1 that we received from the local diagnostics lab showed that the IGF-1 test was indeed run by the MSU lab after all.

 

[Jaime & Mowgli]

My vet called several of the compounding pharmacies and found that Wedgewood was the least expensive. My vet then called in the prescription to them. It is compounded in aan oil. suspension. I asked for the dose to be about 1/4 to 1/2 ml so that determined the concentration. It can be flavored with different flavors. The said that marshmallow was popular so I selected. I get a two month supply for about $180

Thank you for the information! I have emailed my vet a couple of research papers discussing the use of Cabergoline in the hopes that he prescribes it for us soon.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

showed that the IGF-1 test was indeed run by the MSU lab after all.

It is one of two places in the world that does the test, so yes, MSU is the go to lab for IAA and IGF-1. It's not uncommon for vets to be "helpful" and not do the IAA test too.

However, I would like your take on SRT since I see that you had it done twice. What kind of results can we expect from SRT? Reduced insulin dose or remission? Do the benefits extend to preventing other effects of acro, such as cardiomyopathy? What sort of quality of life improvements can be expected?

It's not common to have it done twice. Neko's tumour started coming back 3 years after her first SRT. She was the first cat to have SRT twice, I have since heard of a second. Most cats see a reduced dose, I think I've seen reports that a quarter to a third get remission. Neko was a micro doser (under 3 units) for most of her time on insulin. Most important for me was slowing some of the effects of acro. She had mild cardiomyopathy diagnosed shortly after first SRT, and nothing progress until 3.5 years later. People report some symptoms (like stridor) diminish. It's a gradual process, as radiation neuters the tumour cells, so you have to wait for them to die off.

Lastly, have you heard of anyone having SRT done with the Carlsbad VCA office in southern California? Their website lists SRT with the use of TruBeam or Cyberknife technologies.

Not that I know of, but you could check out the Acrotracker to see if anyone has it listed. Cyberknife is a step above and I've just heard good things form people who have had that done elsewhere. Of course, it's more expensive. If you get a quote, could you let us know what they are charging?