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Feline Pituitary Dwarfism: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Tips
Hyposomatotrophism
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
SEVERITY:
- Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
- The condition does not resolve. There is no effective treatment
- Treatable by neither the veterinarian or pet parent
- Cats with pituitary dwarfism should not be used for breeding purposes
- Transmission is not possible between animals and not possible between animals and people
- Diagnosis requires physical examination, blood testing
VERY COMMON IN
Symptoms & Signs
A kitten affected with pituitary dwarfism will fail to grow at the proper rate, though the proportion of the body and head size would be normal. The kitten will generally be much smaller than his or her littermates. The teeth will be slow to develop as will the hair coat, which will tend to remain soft, without the stiffer guard hairs. Pet parents may also notice bald spots where hair has not grown in. As they age, kittens with pituitary dwarfism will appear mentally slower than normal kittens. Kittens may also fail to drop one or both testicles, and many will develop a heart murmur which can cause lethargy and a cough.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will begin with a physical exam of your kitten. The signs of pituitary dwarfism are easy to recognize and if present, will prompt your veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis with blood work. Pituitary dwarfism is very rare in cats, and needs to be distinguished from congenital hypothyroidism. A special blood test can be used to measure the amount of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) present. The level in a cat with pituitary dwarfism will be lower than normal. Other blood tests may also be recommended to check for the other hormones that are affected by lack of a normally functioning pituitary gland.
Causation
The pituitary gland develops when kitten is still in the womb. Cats with pituitary dwarfism often have incomplete maturation of parts of the pituitary gland as the kitten develops in utero, or the gland can develop but have a cystic structure inhibiting normal function. Because the pituitary gland is responsible for production of many different hormones in the body, a lack of proper function of this gland causes many secondary effects. The pituitary gland produces growth hormones, thyroid stimulating hormone and other hormones that are vital for proper function and development of the kitten. Growth hormone has many effects within the body including controlling the growth rate, maintaining the hair coat, and bone and teeth development. When the amount of these hormones are not maintained in the growing kitten, the kitten will not develop normally.
Treatments
AT-HOME CARE
Cats with pituitary dwarfism need to have a safe, easily accessible place to eat, drink and use the litter box. These cats should not be allowed outside due to their condition.
SUPPORTIVE CARE
None
MEDICATIONS
There are no effective treatments for pituitary dwarfism in the cat. There has been some research in using bovine growth hormone, but it's long term effectiveness is unknown. Cats may have secondary issues due to this condition. These will be treated specifically based on what secondary conditions your cat has.
DEVICES
None
SURGERY
None
SPECIALISTS
Veterinary internal medicine specialists may be consulted in some cases where there is concurrent illness or disease.
Cost Of Treatment
Since there is no effective treatment, costs cannot be estimated. Frequently, affected cats have additional abnormalities for which there is treatment. These costs will depend on the condition diagnosed, severity and treatment(s) administered.
Recovery
Because so many organs are affected by a lack of growth hormone, normal life spans are not to be expected. The kitten may have other hormonal abnormalities such as hypothyroidism and hypoadrenocorticism.
Monitoring
Your cat will need to be closely monitored after diagnosis. If they have secondary effects from lack of normal hormone production, your veterinarian may want to recheck your cat weekly.
Prevention
No known prevention. Affected cats should not be used in breeding programs.
Disclaimer
The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.