6/2/2022 Ben pmps 175 pm+4 130 VET HELP PLEASE

A Fae

A Fae

Member Since 2021
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/3-23-ben-pmps-125-we-didnt-get-lost.261095/#post-2929368

Ben is now getting 3U b.i.d. insulin
PMPS=175 PM+4=130 today.
It is time for his 1 year evaluation, and we have an appointment with Dr Karma on Friday. I have concerns he might have hyperthyroidism. A few months ago he broke out of remission and is back on insulin shots. He is so good about his shots now, he will jump up out if no where when it's shot time, with only a "good boy" as a treat. His weight is up to 23#. He is a fairly large Bengal mix but he looks fat. He has always been a vocal Bengal, as they are, but that has increased. He walks around with "brother" in his mouth yowling more (his 7" stuffed polar bear). Jumps up next to me, looking at me yowling. Just yowling for unknown reasons across the room or out of sight. Wanting to eat much more. When I come home from errands, even for a few minutes getting the mail, I can see his separation anxiety has increased, he'll be hunched over with brother in his mouth making "love cat" sounds.
Studies I have read indicate acro has been found in about 25% of cats diagnosed with diabetes myelitis. I have scheduled for thyroid test and senior cbc. Any feedback and suggestions you have for us welcomed. I am an animal biologist who has lived with cats for 55 years and have treated end stage kidney failure and diabetes. I have an elevated understanding of feline biology, and research that which I don't understand. Ben had his 14th birthday April fool's day, is indoor only, and 15-20# is where his weight seems best.
:bighug:
 
Is your SS up to date? I can’t see anything after 3/19 unless I am looking in the wrong place.
It would be helpfulif you could update it or at least put the last few weeks numbers n please. Thanks.
 
A Fae said:
Studies I have read indicate acro has been found in about 25% of cats diagnosed with diabetes myelitis.
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Yes, that is what the recent research has shown, though the range is 20-25% depending on which country the research has been done in. Acromegaly (more properly hypersomatotropism) is a benign tumour on the pituitary, which isn't related to hyperthyroidism, and needs different tests to diagnose it. Specifically, the IGF-1 blood test, where the blood is sent to Michigan State University. Yowling isn't typically a symptom, though hunger is (excess growth hormone).
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Why do you think he has hyperthyroidism? You could get a senior panel done which includes T4. You could also get the vet to take a look at his teeth.
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Thanks. I was thinking the opposite, hypothyroid symptoms. The yowling could have just been a spring thing, it has gone way down. When I was working at the zoo our male puma would mount the females and scream even though he was neutered. Ben has been doing the same with his polar bear but seemed more this year. I asked for the senior panel with fructosamine since his bg skyrockets whenever I take him out. I gave him .25mg Klonopin which was a mild anti anxiety with Ben. He was much calmer. Vet said Ben looks very good . He suggested weight control proplan. I don't like prescription diets so I am cutting back on his food. He has been eating 3 3oz cans, I've cut bach to 2 3oz cans, 1/2 can every 6 hrs.
Vet said he could only see 1 tooth that needs extraction. I have made an appointment for July gor cleaning/extraction. Brookside did a teeth cleaning on Old Groovy cat when I was treating end stage renal failure. They know how to sedate diabetic felines.
Thanks all for your help. We are hanging in here. :bighug:
 
Hypothyroidism is very unusual in the domestic cat. Most cases are a side effect of treatment for hyperthyroidism, with a handful of cases caused by radiation therapy for acromegaly.

Rather than cutting back the amount of food as much, you might want to look for some varieties that are lower calorie and lower carb.
 
Hi! Hypothyroidism is very rare in cats although I have seen one. I would make sure that there are no issues with sight - some cats as they age, have issues with fiber deposits in their lenses making dawn/ dusk times more difficult for them to see as accurately as they age (placing night lights around or lamps on helps); sometimes mild hearing loss will make them more vocal as well; typically hyperthyroid cats have a more gruff kind of meow. They may also have changes with their coat and stools aside from weight loss (although some have little weight change) and or thicker nails. If it’s a sudden change in his behavior as apposed to a gradual change, you may want to have his urine checked to make sure there are no crystals forming which can make him uncomfortable, more vocal and/or clingy. Is he arthritic and more vocal bc he can’t settle down as easily? And I am assuming there are no new cats around the premise which could act as a source of stress for him - cats and dogs have excellent sniffers! Sometimes an outside cat that marks can cause the inside cat stress which can be displayed in a variety of ways. Hope that helps you in some way. :)
 
Charlotte and Lucky’s mom said:
Hi! Hypothyroidism is very rare in cats although I have seen one. Hope that helps you in some way. :)
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THANKS! With my brain injury I get mixed up sometimes. My Boxer had hypothyroid I was treating. She was trying to eat everything in site, even licking dust bunnies. She gained lots of weight and had alopecia. Her breeders were not quite ethical and were breeding for blue ribbon winners which left my Pinky with genetic disorders. Anyway, I was researching feline thyroid disease and found it to be a rare disease in cats. I have not received test results yet but I asked for thyroid testing because this would be Ben's first. Ben's near sight is not great. I did add night lights a while back for him, thanks. The vet tried to get a urine sample but said he didn't have enough urine and sent home some black pellets for home collection. I have not noticed any noise when he is using the litter box. He pees on puppy pads most of the time and I have not noticed any color change. My niece has the cutest Bengal kittens just born. I scroll fast past their photos so I don't start getting kitten hungry :cat:
There is however, a small yappy dog that recently moved in directly across the hall. Inside my apartment I can hear it barking. I'm sure that causes Ben anxiety. It took Ben 2 years to settle when Fay Wray pitbull came to live with us. Ben would stalk her and pounce on her. Fay didn't have any aggressive tendencies and PetCo would use her in training sessions with the ankle biters. I made a cat walk from the bedroom to Ben's tree. Thanks, it maybe stress from hearing the dog that contributing to Ben's yowling.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Rather than cutting back the amount of food as much, you might want to look for some varieties that are lower calorie and lower carb.
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Thanks I just started looking into that. The vet sent home 2 cans of ProPlan Vet diet OM. Upon checking Dr Lisa's chart they have 21% carbs - not good for a diabetic cat. Reminds me of my diabetic mom eating ice cream. I get that picture in my head when I read a cat food has high carbs:cat:
 
It seems unlikely that he would have hyperthyroidism with the weight gain. Weight loss would be a symptom, as you know. I understand about the vocalization. I have a cat here that I am sure if hyperthyroid. She also has excessive hunger, vocalization, weight loss, excessive grooming. I have had her tested several times but even the Free T4 by equilibrium dialysis has come back “normal.” I may do a T3 suppression test next.
 
Okay. I am confused. Your original post said HYPER-thyroid and now we seem to be talking HYPO- thyroid, which I find very unlikely. Good luck with Ben at the vet. I hope all of his bloodwork will be normal.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Okay. I am confused. Your original post said HYPER-thyroid and now we seem to be talking HYPO- thyroid, which I find very unlikely. Good luck with Ben at the vet. I hope all of his bloodwork will be normal.
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I was confused. I don't have a medical back ground and was confusing hypo and hyperthyroid. I had read vocalizing can be a sign in cats for hyperthyroid. I was treating a dog for hypothyroid some years ago before my brain injury and one of the her signs was weight gain. Upon further investigation I realized how rare hypo is in cats.
Sorry for posting my confusion and confusing others.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Rather than cutting back the amount of food as much, you might want to look for some varieties that are lower calorie and lower carb.
Click to expand...
I may have found the reason for Ben's weight gain. Some months ago I switched him to Young Again. I took him off that food when his diabetes resurfaced. The vet gave me 2 cans of ProPlan vet diet OM which I found to have over 21% carbs. I checked his current low carb foods for kcal/mg. Then checked the YA's calorie content. OMG it may have 0 carbs BUT calorie is out of sight. I am now sure that was the reason for his weight gain and weight gain is probably the reason for his BG rise. I know from personal experience how easy it is to gain weight, how hard it is to take it off.
I am going to keep him on these fancy feast gourmet naturals since they are low carb and look close to the calorie content of the OM vet diet
I have not gotten blood work results yet.
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