Full Answer
Can I give my Cat radioactive iodine for thyroid problems?
There are many treatment options available for thyroid problems in cats. However, the one that generates the greatest discussion is radioactive iodine. We don’t offer it, but we can refer you to an appropriate centre. First, here’s what you need to know. What Is Radioactive Iodine Treatment?
Is 131 I safe for cats with thyroid disease?
While low doses are known to cause thyroid cancer, therapeutic doses, especially in cats, are extremely safe. The main safety considerations concern over-treatment and kidney disease. Over-treatment occurs when the 131 I kills too much thyroid tissue. This puts cats into a state of insufficient thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism.
How does radioiodine kill thyroid tumours?
It becomes concentrated in the tumour, and the beta-radiation it emits kills the tumour. Since any thyroid tumour acts as a ‘magnet’ for radio-iodine, the treatment will also tackle any tumours in the chest (which are notoriously more difficult to identify and treat) as well as the more common tumours in the throat.
What is radio-iodine used for in cats?
What is radio-iodine? Radio-iodine is the gold-standard treatment for feline hyperthyroidism, almost always curing the condition – and at no risk to your cat. Radio-iodine is the radioactive isotope Iodine-131. It destroys thyroid tumours, thereby curing hyperthyroidism.
How long does a cat stay radioactive after a shot?
However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. While the treatment is fairly expensive, over the long term it could be cheaper than medication and is on a par with surgical treatment.
How to treat hyperthyroid cats?
Hyperthyroid cats suffer overactive thyroid glands, circulating too much thyroid hormone through their system and affecting nearly every organ. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. While the treatment is fairly expensive, over the long term it could be cheaper than medication and is on a par with surgical treatment.
How long can you leave a cat at a vet?
Since you'll have to leave your cat at the facility for several days or more, it's not a question of dropping him off at a distant veterinary hospital and then picking him up the next day. It requires two round-trips for you.
Is radioiodine safe for cats?
The Disadvantages of Radioiodine Therapy Treatment for Cats. Radioactive iodine therapy is becoming the treatment of choice for felines with hyperthyroidism. However, it may not be the best treatment for your particular cat. Weigh the pros and cons of various treatments and discuss options with your vet.
Can you wear protective clothing on a cat in the hospital?
He's radioactive, so it's not safe even for humans wearing protective clothing to spend too much time around him.
Can a cat eat other food if they have a thyroid problem?
It might not be an option for a frail cat who shouldn't undergo anesthesia. A prescription diet is available that lowers thyroid hormone, but for it to work your cat can't ever eat any other food.
What is the I-131 in cats?
General Information about Feline Hyperthyroidism and I-131 Therapy in Cats. Cat hyperthyroidism is a commonly diagnosed endocrine pathology in older cats. It is caused by a tumor that produces too much feline thyroid hormone. The disease is usually fatal if left untreated. Feline Hyperthyroidism may be treated with medicine, surgery, ...
Does thyro cat damage other tissue?
Does not damage other tissue or organs, including the parathyroid glands. Does not have harmful side effects. Returns thyroid function to normal usually within one month. Is cost effective. Thyro-Cat is an approved specialty facility with State Department of Health and Nuclear Regulatory Commission for use of I-131.
Can Iodine be used for hyperthyroidism in cats?
Surgery may not be effective in removing all of the affected thyroid tissue causing feline hyperthyroidism. Radioactive Iodine (I-131) therapy for feline hyperthyroidism is very effective, has few side effects, is a one-time treatment in over 95% of cats with hyperthyroidism, and does not require administration of pills or anesthesia.
Can cats take tapazole?
The disease is usually fatal if left untreated. Medical therapy for feline hyperthyroidism (methimazole - Tapazole®) is required daily, is a life-long treatment, and does not cure the cat's hyperthyroid condition. The difficulties associated with giving pills to cats often causes stress to both the animal and owner.
Can Iodine 131 be used on cats?
The I-131 hyperthyroid cat treatment is absorbed quickly into the cat's bloodstream and the diseased thyroid tissue. Once in the thyroid, it destroys the overactive portions of the thyroid gland. Radioactive Iodine I-131 feline hyperthyroidism treatment has the following advantages over medical and surgical treatments for feline hyperthyroidism:
Is I-131 safe for cats?
It is as easy as one injection just under the skin, much like a routine feline vaccine. I-131 is safe and effective.
Is radioactive iodine therapy expensive?
The cost of radioactive iodine therapy is similar to the other forms of therapy, and is often less expensive when compared to long term medical therapy or the higher probability of a required second surgery. Prior to making a final decision relative to initiating the I-131 hyperthyroidism therapy, all cats are screened closely for the presence ...
What Is Radioactive Iodine Treatment?
Iodine-131 or 131 I is a radioactive isotope of iodine with a half life of 8 days. Like stable iodine, it is naturally concentrated in the thyroid gland. Therefore, it has two claims to fame:
How Safe Is Radioactive Iodine?
While low doses are known to cause thyroid cancer, therapeutic doses, especially in cats, are extremely safe. The main safety considerations concern over-treatment and kidney disease.
Do A Pretreatment Trial
Even if you don’t want to use carbimazole or methimazole tablets, it’s a good idea to trial these for a month before giving 131 I treatment. Antithyroid medications are reversible, so if you detect the development of kidney disease, you can choose to stop or reduce the dose. Once the 131 I is given, there’s no going back.
Ask About Lower Radioactive Iodine Doses
A recent study showed that reducing the dose to 74 MBq [2.0 mCi] resulted in no extra treatment failures but significantly fewer hypothyroid cats. This is roughly half of many current doses. In the study, this was done only for cats with pre-treatment thyroxine levels under 167 mol/l or 13 µg/dL.
Follow Aftercare Advice
Studies show that the number of cats with hypothyroidism increases over the 6-12 months after treatment. Therefore, your vet will recommend follow up blood testing, and you should definitely get this done. Testing for both T4 and TSH is more expensive than T4 alone but considered to be more reliable at detecting hypothyroid cats.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment Locations
Most veterinary specialist centres and even some private vets offer 131 I treatment. Wherever you live, there will probably be a vet nearby able to offer this service. In Adelaide, these are:
How Much Does Radioactive Iodine Cost?
The fee for treatment including the hospital stay is around $2000. After this, you should be able to get follow up testing done at your local vet.
What is radio iodine for cats?
What is radio-iodine? Radio-iodine is the gold-standard treatment for feline hyperthyroidism, almost always curing the condition – and at no risk to your cat. Radio-iodine is the radioactive isotope Iodine-131. It destroys thyroid tumours, thereby curing hyperthyroidism.
Can thyroid cancer be treated with radioiodine?
Since any thyroid tumour acts as a ‘magnet’ for radio-iodine, the treatment will also tackle any tumours in the chest (which are notoriously more difficult to identify and treat) as well as the more common tumours in the throat.
Does radio iodine kill thyroid cancer?
Radio-iodine is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream and then gets taken up by thyroid tumour tissue – and no other kind of tissue, including healthy thyroid tissue. It becomes concentrated in the tumour, and the beta-radiation it emits kills the tumour.
What happens if a cat doesn't take up thyroid?
What is not taken up by the thyroid will be present in the cat's bodily fluids and will primarily be voided in the cat's urine (in those first four days at the vet hospital). What is taken up by the thyroid will be released slowly over the next days/weeks to the other bodily fluids which is why they have the precautions that you describe.
How to control radiation exposure?
The three ways that we control exposures to external sources of radiation are time, distance, and shielding. Reduce the time near a source, increase the distance from the source, or use some sort of radiation absorbing shielding between you and the source of radiation and you will reduce your radiation dose .
Why is my cat being separated for 4 days?
One of the reasons the cat was held for four days was to allow for much of the radioactive 131 I to be excreted in urine so that the amount of external radiation exposure is significantly reduced.
Is cat litter radioactive?
Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. I am certain that your veterinarian probably told you to take care when handling the litter and to wash your hands thoroughly after handling litter, the cat, and items that the cat came into contact with.
Does a cat have radioactive iodine?
Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine.
Does iodine make cats drool?
I have a cat also and I know when she is happy and purring while sitting on my lap getting strokes, she drools. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine.
Does 131 I cause thyroid issues?
What they are trying to prevent is the intake (ingestion, etc.) of the radioactive iodine into your body because, just like the cat, any 131 I intake you have will result in an uptake by your thyroid and in larger quantities could result in significant thyroid dose.
How long do cats live after radiation?
However, as humans usually live on average 75-80 years and cats will live on average 13-15 years.
Why should I stay away from my cat for a week?
The reason why you are advised to stay away from small children for a week is because you will be emitting a small amount of radiation.
Can radiation cause cancer?
The chances of developing a cancer because of radiation exposure is much smaller for an animal than for a human. The biggest concern for spread of radiation is if the animal comes in contact with secretions (urine, feces, sweat). Here is what I would advise.
What is radioactive iodine used for?
Radioactive iodine is usually the isotope Iodine 131 ( half life ~ 8 days). It is used in medicine both as a tracer and , in larger doses, for treating thyroid cancer. You will never just ‘take' a dose of radioactive iodine. You may be ‘given' a dose by qualified nuclear medicine professionals.
How does iodine tablet work?
Iodine tablets work on one radioactive isotope, Iodine 131, which is a fission product likely to be found in fallout from a nuclear bomb. The way it works is a little complicated, but instructive. It doesn’t actually affect the radiation from the decay of iodine 131, just the location of the iodine 131 when it decays.
Why is 131 in milk different from iodine?
The reason it is different is because in Eastern Europe, most diets do not provide enough iodine to keep the iodine receptors in the thyroid gland full. This is where the protective effect of taking iodine supplements shortly before unknowingly drinking milk with iodine 131 in it.
Why does 131 cause cancer?
Because it takes time for enough for enough decays of the iodine 131 to occur to increase the probability of the mutations being the ones to cause the cancer - to be the cancer that a little bit of iodine at the right time could have prevented.
How long after iodine treatment can you go home?
For a few days after radioactive iodine treatment, you will be slightly radioactive. Every day the doctors will come and take measurements from you to work out how much radiation is left in your body. They will tell you when the radioactivity has dropped to a safe level and you can go home.
Can you be next to a cat after radiation?
No, unfortunately you can’t be next to your cat for a little while. I believe the radiation affects any pet close to you for at least a week. I will double check with the doctor but I believe you can’t be close to him same day. Let it pass for at least a week.