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[Jackydp]

Hi, I just found this message board. My 10 year old male tabby, Pepper, was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago. He was on Glargin insulin for a while, but eventually we managed to come off the insulin as the diabetes went into remission. We had him in a diabetic diet and insulin shots twice a day. Then I started testing him by myself at home with a glucometer and strips. I found that sometimes his readings were below 10 which is pretty good for a diabetic cat. After a straight week of home testing and finding the readings consistently about 8 or 9 the vet said that he should not be receiving insulin. So he's been off it now for about 3 months. However, he was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour about 6 weeks ago. He started going in circles, always to the left, about 5 months ago and the frequency was increasing to daily episodes. I saw a neurologist and yesterday saw the radiation oncologist who said Pepper is a great candidate for SRS radiation surgery. It's terribly expensive, but the prognosis if we do nothing (he's on Phenobarbitol and steroids) is not good. So I opted to go ahead with the treatment. He had the mask made yesterday, under anaesthetic. Meh goes back on Tuesday for a CT scan and then has three days of radiation treatments. He also,has hyperthyroidism. Poor kitty. How many things can one cat have? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the treatment works and that Pepper can get back to his old self. Very sad to see him so lethargic and uninterested in anything. Except food which he devours like a horse. The vet hospital where he's having his treatment is the only one in Canada with an SRS machine for animals. We're very lucky to live close by.
I have another healthy tabby, Tiger, who,is 17. I had a stray neurotic black female previously who lived until almost 20. Hope that the treatment will give Pepper at least a few more years.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Hi and welcome to FDMB.

It sounds like you have been doing all of the right things for Pepper's diabetes.

I don't have any experience with treating a cat for tumors. I lost my cat Spot to cancer, but it had progressed so quickly and agressively, treating it was not evan an option. I am so glad that Pepper does have some treatment options so he may have many more years with you. We will keep both of you in our prayers that the treatments are successful. The power of prayer has worked many times on this board.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

I am sorry to hear he has so many issues - I hope the surgery goes well.

The good news is that he is in remission but keep a close eye on his BG and test it a couple of times a week as this stress etc may well inflate his BG.

Also hyperthyroidism is treatable - you can go the pills/ear cream route but over time with repeated blood tests at the vet and playing with dose you might be better trying the radiation treatment. Its expensive to do but one dose of radioactive iodine and problem is solved permanently. Thats assuming of course this tumour isnt somehow affecting the thyroid too? ( i dont know enough about it)

Wendy