Unusual Feline Endocrinopathies: How Rare Are These and How Can I Recognise Them in My Patients?

Making a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus is an almost everyday experience for most cat clinicians, however it is clear that cats do suffer from other endocrinopathies. What follows is information on a selection of uncommon feline endocrine conditions. It is very difficult to know whether any of these are genuinely ‘emerging’, however it is clear that some of these conditions are more common than previously believed.

Acromegaly

As in humans, acromegaly in cats is generally caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone from a pituitary tumour. The vast majority of cats that develop acromegaly will develop diabetes mellitus due to the profound insulin-antagonism induced by hypersecretion of growth hormone. A typical feature of the diabetes is that it is difficult to control and even large doses of exogenous insulin may be ineffective. Acromegaly and hyperadrenocorticism should be considered in any cat that presents with unexplained insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus (eg, requiring more than 2-2.5U/kg insulin). However, the diseases do not invariably cause diabetes mellitus, and other features may sometimes dominate the clinical picture. [...]