The iodine is taken into the thyroid gland and incorporated into thyroxine. JavaScript is disabled. At 1 and 3 months after the treatment, a blood test for thyroid and kidney function should be done by your veterinarian. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Risks Associated with Radioiodine Therapy for Feline Hyperthyroidism - AVMI This is because the parathyroid glands (responsible for calcium balance in the body) are near the thyroid gland and may be damaged or accidentally removed during surgery. Within one year after discontinuation of MMI, hyperthyroidism recurred in 104 patients. Generally, about 5 to 10 pounds of excess weight can likely be attributed to the lack of thyroid hormones that occurs in people diagnosed with hypothyroidism. If possible, I would like to wear protective clothing so we can return to our familiar habit of living/sleeping in 24-hour close physical contact to minimize his stress and promote his recovery. Before treatment he was ravenous and losing weight -- typical of cats with that disorder I'm told. It does, however, involve the handling and injection of a radioactive substance that is only permitted at facilities specially licensed to use radioisotopes. We found out about the radioactive iodine treatment and after lots.of research decided this was the way to go. J Vet Intern Med, 2001. A treated cat has to remain hospitalized until its radiation level has fallen to within acceptable limits. It is important to remember that old age is not a disease. However, once the underlying hyperthyroidism has been controlled, the cardiac changes will often improve or may even resolve completely. There are currently no known preventive measures for hyperthyroidism, but early diagnosis decreases the secondary problems and improves the prognosis. First we need to put this exposure level into some context: How do x-rays increase your risk for cancer? The radioiodine is eliminated in urine and feces. The advantage of surgery is that it is likely to produce a long-term or permanent cure in most cats, and therefore eliminates the need for long-term medication. Should we just cut him off "cold turkey" (pun intended) and hope he finds fulfillment and eventual weight gain with his old diet of dry food? The routine stay in our radioactive iodine unit is currently 12 days. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routines. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Our cat was treated for hyperthyroidism and has been back home for about two weeks. Special attention should be given to the thyroid glands to look for evidence of enlargement and the clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. Miles K.G., Simpson S.A., Zimmerman R.B., et al. The "radiation badge" worn by x-ray techs for example is good for measuring external exposure to radiation but does nothing to measure intakes of radioactive materials which is the primary concern in the case of a cat treated with radioactive 131I. After administration of 131 Iodine, your cat is . Goiter - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic Montreal. A seven hour airplane trip exposes passengers to 0.02 mSv of radiation, which is a fraction of the exposure of a standard Chest x-ray (0.1 mSv). Some places realize that the stress of being away from home for so long is not good for older cats. Hypothyroidism in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and FAQs - PetMD Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Medication Remember that theNRC regulationsrequire that release criteria and discharge instructions provided to owners of hyperthyroid cats prevent exposures of more than 1 mSv. You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. 228(4): p. 559-63. What To Expect After Radioactive Iodine Treatment For this reason, some cats with hyperthyroidism may require additional treatment to control secondary heart disease. And not only do we love the pets, we also love their people, and you are our reason for making this site. This I131 injection accumulates in the abnormal thyroid tissue, and the radioactivity kills the abnormal tissue without harming other vital structures nearby. Ten patients (6.4%) had DS (Down Syndrome) and 33 (21.0%) had received ATDs before RAI ablation. Dietary restriction of iodine is, however, somewhat controversial because of concerns about the effects of long-term iodine restriction on overall health and the possibility that such a diet may actually backfire and worsen hyperthyroidism. Aim: Analysis and follow up of body weight after radioiodine therapy (RITh) of hyperthyroidism, since excessive weight gain is a common complaint among these patients. Clients frequently have the following 2 questions when considering radioiodine therapy for their cat's hyperthyroidism. 2000-2023 TheCatSite.com. TheCatSite.com participates in select affiliate advertising programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. . TheCatSite.com is a community of cat lovers dedicated to quality cat care and cat welfare. Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. If you suspect your cat might be experiencing some of these symptoms, the next step is visiting your veterinarian for a blood test to check your cats thyroid hormone levels. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Fewer than 2% of hyperthyroid cases in cats involve malignant thyroid gland tumors. Hypocalcemia can be life-threatening and may require either short-term or long-term medication postoperatively should it occur. However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. What to Feed a Cat With Hyperthyroidism? - Guide for Pet Owners This disease is common in older cats. As for your dose, my primary concernespecially if you were allowing the cat to have direct, prolonged contact within the first week of releasewould be the potentially contaminated materials that could result in your intake of radioactive 131I. The Disadvantages of Radioiodine Therapy Treatment for Cats, American Veterinary Medical Imaging: Feline Hyperthyroidism, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Radioactive Iodine Treatment of Hyperthyroid Cats, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Hyperthyroidism in the Cat, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Hyperthyroidism in Cats. So in this case the targeted radiation exposure is actually increasing survival for these patients. As youre on this website right now, we can assume that you love pets and likely have a special dog or cat (or many) in your life. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Discuss these issues with your veterinarian when considering dietary iodine restriction as a treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. All rights reserved. What happens after radioactive iodine treatment for cats? Radioactive iodine therapy is curative within three months of therapy in approximately 95 percent of all hyperthyroid cases. The good news is that there are many treatment options available to our hyperthyroid cats. NRC Regulations Regardless of the medication, blood tests should be conducted periodically during treatment to evaluate whether the therapy is effective and to monitor kidney function and for potential side effects. Not all veterinary facilities perform the procedure. Why? Side effects may include fluid retention, weight gain, elevated . Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies. Is radioactive iodine treatment safe? Hyperthyroidism is too much thyroid hormone that causes weight loss so kitty should gain some weight back to a normal amount after treatment. Antithyroid medications are also available in a gel that can be applied to the skin. Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day. Your cat will not experience nausea, hair loss, lethargy, or decreased appetite as a result of the procedure. Of 135 patients with documented pubertal status . Feline I-131 Therapy | Iowa State University Cats are homed in our spacious, purpose-built radioactive iodine unit and cared for by our dedicated team of radioiodine nurses. Many owners of cats with hyperthyroidism are hesitant to have radiation therapy or surgery because of their cat's advanced age. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. Prominent in the regulations established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for radioactive materials users are guidelines that limit exposure to radiation workers, and members of the general public. In many cats, only one thyroid lobe is abnormal, so only one surgery is needed. These include an iodine-restricted diet, medications, and radioactive iodine therapy. Despite the extensive blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and physical exams that we require before . About TheCatSite.com. Category: Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. For example, some families cant medicate cats every day, so a more permanent solution such as radioactive iodine treatment or surgery may be best. Facilities that use radioactive materials like I-131 must have radioactive materials licenses. Also called thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism is caused by an increase in production of thyroid hormones (known as T3 and T4) from an enlarged thyroid gland in a cats neck. Ultimately of course, these conditions can be diagnosed. With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine (radioiodine) by mouth. 197(2): p. 125-136. In some cats, anorexia develops as the disease progresses. Exposure to high levels of dietary iodine may cause susceptible cats to develop hyperthyroidism. Excessive weight gain. In most cases, only enough radioiodine is given to destroy that part of the gland that is functioning . If this is the case with your cat, paying special attention to specific nutrients such as dietary phosphorus (a key player in chronic kidney disease) may be required. Once his radiation levels come down and you can bring him home, you still have to keep him away from young children and pregnant women, as he'll pass small amounts of radioactive iodine through his urine for approximately two weeks. The School of Veterinary Medicine's Ryan Hospital, however, is one of the few veterinary centers in the region to offer a treatment that can cure the disease: a single shot of radioactive iodine, I-131. Did she have stage 1 prior to treatment for hyperthyroidism or did the stage 1 unmask after treatment started and then jump to stage 4?