Is there treatise for vets on how to deal with an acrocat
- Thread starter LisaZT
- Start date
Karen&Rocket
Active Member
Hi... not an expert here; Rocket was just diagnosed this past July. But in my short experience with all this, all I can say is that most vets are severely unfamiliar with feline diabetes, not to mention acro. I knew something was wrong well before we got the acro diagnosis, and even suspected acro pretty early on when we got up to 4U of ProZinc. My vet said our cat couldn't have acro (despite other symptoms I told him about) because he didn't think he had any of the facial features. And he hadn't even heard of the study that found 25-32% of diabetic cats have acromegaly. We're in southern California, and our vet practices out of a fancy newly remodeled animal hospital that does laser therapy, water rehab, etc. so you'd think they'd know better. Anyway we then went to a cats-only clinic with a supposed feline diabetes specialist, who didn't think he had acro either. But we had her send in his blood for testing anyway "just to rule it out." Yep, we were right, sadly.
Anyway, most vets know less about acro than they do diabetes. I wish that wasn't the case. There are a handful of us posting here on the boards (both here and on the Lantus/Lev forums mostly); it would be great to learn more about you and your kitty, if you feel like sharing.
Anyway, most vets know less about acro than they do diabetes. I wish that wasn't the case. There are a handful of us posting here on the boards (both here and on the Lantus/Lev forums mostly); it would be great to learn more about you and your kitty, if you feel like sharing.
Most vets were taught that acromegaly is very rare. The study showing how common it is was published in 2015, so very recent. I was lucky to find an internal medicine vet who was up to date. The Royal Veterinary College Diabetes remission clinic have been good at answering questions. They were the ones that did the study on numbers of acros in the diabetic cat population.
There is also a lot of knowledge shared here and amongst caregivers of acromegalic cats. Anything in particular we can help you with?
There is also a lot of knowledge shared here and amongst caregivers of acromegalic cats. Anything in particular we can help you with?
JeffJ
Very Active Member
What is worse - is that we hear on this FDMB forum, that many vets have pretty bad advice for just diabetes. Stuff like:
Dose 1.0 or 2.0 twice a day and we'll see how your cat is doing in two weeks
or
Don't test at home, you don't need to do it.
And it's not like that incorrect diabetes advice is rare. Edy (and Galaxy) on the Prozinc forum, was told by her vet to dose 8 units or 9 units for 2 weeks without changing doses. (That notation is in Galaxy's health tab). Galaxy is a suspected Acro cat, and Edy came to FDMB for better advice. As it happens, she ended up lowering the dose over that 2 weeks, to avoid super low numbers.
I was also lucky with Leo and my vet. She heard about Acro, and also did a little research. But mostly she learned a lot from me during the visits. I also took Leo to an internal vet, who had good knowledge about Acro. This was all in 2016. That internal vet immediately recognized external signs of Acro on Leo.
Dose 1.0 or 2.0 twice a day and we'll see how your cat is doing in two weeks
or
Don't test at home, you don't need to do it.
And it's not like that incorrect diabetes advice is rare. Edy (and Galaxy) on the Prozinc forum, was told by her vet to dose 8 units or 9 units for 2 weeks without changing doses. (That notation is in Galaxy's health tab). Galaxy is a suspected Acro cat, and Edy came to FDMB for better advice. As it happens, she ended up lowering the dose over that 2 weeks, to avoid super low numbers.
I was also lucky with Leo and my vet. She heard about Acro, and also did a little research. But mostly she learned a lot from me during the visits. I also took Leo to an internal vet, who had good knowledge about Acro. This was all in 2016. That internal vet immediately recognized external signs of Acro on Leo.
JeffJ
Very Active Member
Since I posted about Galaxy -
Unfortunately he died on Oct 4, 2019. He was a suspected Acro-cat, and he was 17 years old. Edy Did a great job of taking care of his diabetes.
Galaxy departure
Unfortunately he died on Oct 4, 2019. He was a suspected Acro-cat, and he was 17 years old. Edy Did a great job of taking care of his diabetes.
Galaxy departure
Olive & Paula
Very Active Member
Same scenario as @Keskat&Rocket here. My vet didn't believe it because Ollie didn't have the facial features. She has everything else though. I said to humor me, run the test. So he does. Then when test comes back he says, even thought report says high, it's normal because it isn't over 1000 and acros are over 1000. So I go pick up the report, see results. I call him back and tell him the MSU results are American measurements. If you convert to the UK measurements as all the research is done in, Ollie is over 2900. He agreed but wouldn't treat as he was told cabergoline doesn't work. I had to go through 3 more vets to find one willing to give cabergoline a try. I personally don't like this practice, but it's our only option. Dr hasn't given me to much of a hard time about the diabetes or raising dose on cabergoline as I see fit.