Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with insulinoma had low blood sugar and lasting brain damage
By Kraje, Amy Clare·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2003·Veterinary Referral Clinic, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypoglycemia and irreversible neurologic complications in a cat with insulinoma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was brought in for weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and seizures. The vet found that the cat was disoriented and diagnosed her with an insulinoma, a type of tumor that causes low blood sugar. After surgically removing the tumor, her blood sugar levels returned to normal, but unfortunately, she continued to have neurological issues and was ultimately euthanized. This case highlights the importance of quickly diagnosing and treating low blood sugar in cats, as it can lead to serious and lasting brain damage.
People also search for: cat seizures treatment · insulinoma in cats · low blood sugar symptoms in cats
Abstract
A 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and seizures. On physical examination, the cat appeared disoriented and had an inconsistent menace response. An insulinoma was diagnosed on the basis of normal serum insulin activity in conjunction with profound hypoglycemia and histologic examination (with immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A and insulin) of a pancreatic mass that was removed surgically. Blood glucose concentration was within reference limits after surgery. However, neurologic abnormalities persisted, and the cat was euthanatized. Chronic hypoglycemia, associated with insulinomas, can cause irreversible neuronal changes in cats; therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemic conditions are of critical importance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14507096/