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SmallestSparrow

SmallestSparrow

Member Since 2024
Hi, I’ve already messed up replying twice before posting (sorry).
I’m new here. I had a cat decades ago who developed diabetes from his adrenal tumor (Erik). That was the pre tech era, treated with insulin and pee collected to test by covering litter with Saran Wrap.
Fast forward to today. My cat Methos (18 yo) was diagnosed with an adrenal tumor Jan 2023, causing Cushing’s (treated with Vetoryl) and hyperaldosteronism (treated with spironolactone). He has just started bexacat for newly diagnosed DM. Am I supposed to write what he eats? Tiki cat light mousse (5.9% carb), Tiki cat Senior mousse chicken (16% carb) and Tiki cat chicken consommé (7% carb)
While he’s never minded me cutting his nails or giving him his inhaler, he’s always hated me touching his ears…so the struggle is real trying to convince him re lancets. Looking at everyone’s advice now on that, thanks!
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Here is a link to TESTING HINTS AND LINKS

If you can set up a signature which is the smaller writing that appears below everyone’s posts that gives information about their kitty for us to see…you can add food choices there.
Here is the link about the signature and other useful info for new members
HELP US HELP YOU

I’m going to tag @Wendy&Neko for you to talk about the health issues with Methos.
 
I haven't seen cats with Cushings on Bexacat before. Make sure you are monitoring closely for ketones. We have more information on the pros and cons of Bexacat in this file: New Treatments for Feline Diabetes Does your vet have much experience with complicated kitties and Bexacat? Methos age and complications seem to be a contraindication for Bexacat.

 
Wendy&Neko said:
I haven't seen cats with Cushings on Bexacat before. Make sure you are monitoring closely for ketones. We have more information on the pros and cons of Bexacat in this file: New Treatments for Feline Diabetes Does your vet have much experience with complicated kitties and Bexacat? Methos age and complications seem to be a contraindication for Bexacat.
Click to expand...
thanks for your advice and I’m very sorry about Neko.

Trying it first bc can’t try after insulin but primarily bc the way both Cushing’s and hyperaldosteronism cause DM is through insulin resistance —hence the difficulty controlling DM in cats (or humans) with secreting adrenal tumors and the standard recommendation for surgery as treatment. In theory SGLT2 inhibitors would work better for an insulin resistant cat than insulin would in the long run—but it’s new and the “n” for his situation is tiny. Before starting Vetoryl his sugar had been elevated in the hospital but they considered it stress. At the start of Vetoryl it had been going up but immediately came back down until last week. His Cushing’s symptoms had started to go back up this past month and I was waiting to increase it until after he was started on spironolactone.
She and I both questioned “otherwise healthy” in Bexacat guidelines but reading the information on the drug it appeared to mean don’t give it to a cat that is sick (making it difficult to assess changes in appetite, vomiting etc). Or ones with liver or kidney problems already—methos has perfect kidney and liver function. . I didn’t see an age restriction but I will read the link you supply.
I don’t think any vet has a lot of experience with adrenal tumors secreting cortisol or aldosterone, and even fewer treating them with anything other than surgery, but she consults with specialists and I’ll talk with her this week (I get one more day to get blood from his ear before we go in to get it drawn instead). He’s an old cat with a hard to treat tumor and we’re just trying to give him a little more time —Thanks for your help!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I haven't seen cats with Cushings on Bexacat before. Make sure you are monitoring closely for ketones. We have more information on the pros and cons of Bexacat in this file: New Treatments for Feline Diabetes Does your vet have much experience with complicated kitties and Bexacat? Methos age and complications seem to be a contraindication for Bexacat.
Click to expand...
Where did this forum get the info on the link you gave that stated cats over 13 shouldn’t take bexacat? I ask bc that’s not in the prescribing guidance. I think whoever wrote it was trying to say there can be other causes of DM in cats of normal weight (in whom finding the other cause and treating it is important although not as far as I can tell as an MD a reason not to use a SGLT2 if the DM is insulin resistant)—and most cats I’m told are insulin resistant (and fat) just as most diabetic humans who are fat are insulin resistant. The study cats used were up to age 19 and I see nothing related to age being a contraindication or a risk factor.
I’m wondering if maybe that’s out of date info, since I noticed the forum’s posted carb calculations for the Tiki cat I feed Methos isn’t accurate for calories or carbs (I assume the recipe changed since the chart was made)—or if the forum info on age and bexacat is based on something other than the elanco prescribing guidance
Thanks!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Follow the link in the post above to the AAHA Information Regarding Bexacat. Repeating that here:
American Animal Hospital Association information regarding Bexacat
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Thanks. It’s interesting that the veterinarian being interviewed in that link stated that when neither the prescribing information nor the FDA letter that prompted the interview did; I will ask mine what she thinks may have led that vet to say that as I can’t find anywhere that older cats are insulin dependent (which would make sense medically not to use an SGLT2 then)—and since older cats were used in the study—but cats aren’t the species I treat.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Here is a link to TESTING HINTS AND LINKS

If you can set up a signature which is the smaller writing that appears below everyone’s posts that gives information about their kitty for us to see…you can add food choices there.
Here is the link about the signature and other useful info for new members
HELP US HELP YOU

I’m going to tag @Wendy&Neko for you to talk about the health issues with Methos.
Click to expand...

Thank you and also @Wendy&Neko. I especially loved the “fractious cat” video…Methos has always been the sweetest, most easy going cat but the tumor has messed with his tolerance…and since he’s as long as a corgi but taller, with big polydactyl paws…well he’s got reputation and it takes a village when he gets blood drawn. Whoever decided to include that fractious cat (and whoever made it)—you are my hero

Anyway, I may have pierced his ear but we got blood this am (yay!) …0.2 (cautious yay!) so no need for an urgent trip to the vet

I really appreciate all the tips in all the videos, and while I didn’t need to turn him into a burrito I most of all appreciated the last video’s honesty and humor.
 
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