Vetdle Archive Case #134: Feline Acromegaly

Clinical Clues

A diabetic cat is referred because control remains poor despite treatment changes.
Insulin requirements keep increasing rather than stabilising.
The owner reports weight gain despite the diabetes history.
The head appears broader and the paws seem enlarged.
Laboratory testing supports excess growth hormone activity.
Feline acromegaly, or hypersomatotropism, is an important cause of insulin-resistant diabetes.

Diagnosis

Feline Acromegaly

This case is most consistent with Feline Acromegaly because the cat has insulin-resistant diabetes together with broad physical features and evidence of excess growth hormone. The most important clues are the increasing insulin requirement and weight gain, which make routine feline diabetes alone less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cat case supports the provided diagnosis, Feline Acromegaly, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: A diabetic cat is referred because control remains poor despite treatment changes.
Clue 2: Insulin requirements keep increasing rather than stabilising.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: The owner reports weight gain despite the diabetes history.
Clue 4: The head appears broader and the paws seem enlarged.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: Laboratory testing supports excess growth hormone activity.
Clue 6: Feline acromegaly, or hypersomatotropism, is an important cause of insulin-resistant diabetes.

Self-review prompts

After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cat case shaped your initial interpretation?
When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Feline Acromegaly?
How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Feline Acromegaly?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.