No emergency, do these symptoms match with PT?

[Nathan]

Are these symptoms exclusive to a pituitary tumor?

• Weight loss
• Falling when trying to climb into Sputnik before other symptoms
• Wanting to go on top of the cage every time, running around a bit and then going back in. More than first.
• Really not willing to go into travel carrier.
• Not drinking anymore
• Unable to navigate ramp
• Confusion, not knowing where to go / where things are
• Climbing up to Sputnik, but not able to climb into it and then falling
• Clubbing
• Curled on side
• Excessive bruxxing
• Inability to grasp hard food
• Dropping bits of food from mouth
• Having difficulty with swallowing
• Seeming hungry, taking a few bites and then falling asleep (or worse)
• Walking off edges
• Being completely limp when being held, feet and tail just hanging down
• Seeking human attention, not wanting to be in cage

Or could these symptoms be caused by a (severe) ear infection?

My vet said that it was a pituitary tumor, but when I ask if it could have been an ear infection she just says no and does not explain why she thinks that.

Can a chronic infection cause a pituitary tumor to grow faster / cause symptoms earlier?

And how quickly can cabergoline start to work?

 

[Kye]

The unable to hold food is concerning, first question I have would be how old are they ? Can you take a video of them trying to eat and maybe trying to move then post it somewhere like YouTube and link it here.? I can't answer the cabergoline but I'm hoping someone with more experience can help you out soon.

 

[lilspaz68]

A lot of those symptoms indicate PT over inner ear infection. If you can upload a video elsewhere and paste the link here we could tell for sure.

 

[Nathan]

Could an inner ear infection hasten the progression of a pituitary tumor? Would a bad outcome only be caused by the pituitary tumor itself if the ear infection is not that bad or is it possible that the combination causes a bad outcome?

 

[Kye]

Could an inner ear infection hasten the progression of a pituitary tumor? Would a bad outcome only be caused by the pituitary tumor itself if the ear infection is not that bad or is it possible that the combination causes a bad outcome?

Unfortunately if it is a pt(which it most likely is) there's never a good outcome. You can give medication to slow it but in the end they'll always succumb to it

 

[Nathan]

I understand, but could a co-occuring ear infection cause a faster decline?

 

[lilspaz68]

Of course it can but untreated PT once you've gone through the initial stages can go very fast. Inner ear usually is dizziness, circling, head tilt.

 

[Nathan]

This was one a half day before she really went downhill: Streamable Video

Notice her knuckling her left front paw at the start of the video.

This was a couple days earlier. Is she knuckling her right front paw here?

Left front paw knuckling?

Again: left front paw knuckling (when turning)? 01-07-2021

Surgical removal of fibroadenoma: 07-06-2021

 

[Nathan]

One more thing I just recalled: grabbing food with her teeth when I gave it to her and then dropping it.

Edit: I have found a video and now I would have noticed it at an earlier stage. I feel so bad and guilty right now...