Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Acromegaly Welfare Management

Acromegaly from growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumours causes complex welfare challenges in middle-aged to older cats.

Key Facts

Acromegaly causes growth hormone excess leading to progressive organomegaly and diabetes mellitus
Affected cats develop insulin resistance making diabetes very difficult to control
Physical changes include facial coarsening, enlarged paws and increased body size
Radiation therapy targeting the pituitary tumour achieves remission in some cats
Hypophysectomy (pituitary surgery) is available at specialist centres with good outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Acromegaly causes progressive welfare challenges through organ enlargement, refractory diabetes and ultimately tumour pressure effects. Specialist treatment including radiation or surgery offers welfare benefits that medical management of diabetes alone cannot achieve.

What You Can Do

Suspect acromegaly in diabetic cats requiring unusually high insulin doses and seek specialist assessment
Discuss radiation therapy or hypophysectomy options with an appropriate specialist for acromegalic cats
Monitor quality of life carefully and adjust management goals as acromegaly progresses