What are the best treatment options for a cat with acromegaly?

Question

Oscar has been diagnosed with a acromegaly tumour in the petriliy gland recently however out vet isnt 100% sure what we can do to make him most comfortable and when so we are asking diffrent vets opinions. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 10 years and 1 month old

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. First, I assume you mean the Pituitary Gland instead of petriliy gland. Second, most of these cats are diabetic. I assume yours is too. From a Veterinary Information Network paper last updated in 2018, here are the current recommendations for treatment/management. 1. Somatostatin analogues. Somatostatin is a hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that works on the pituitary gland to decrease the secretion of Growth Hormone (GH). Octreotide is one & a newer Pasireotide has shown promise. 2. Radiation Therapy has been widely used to treat feline acromegaly. 3. Hypophysectomy, surgical removal of the pituitary gland is an option but requires a very skilled surgeon. 4. Supportive therapy for the cat where the acromegaly cannot be addressed directly. Here, higher doses of insulin can be administered to achieve better glycemic control & decrease the outward signs of diabetes. While this can make the symptoms better for your cat, it does not address the underlying disease. Here in the US, hypophysectomy is a promising treatment modality but is not widely available, and the newer somatostatin analog is also showing great promise. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What are the best treatment options for a cat with acromegaly?

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