Your cat will receive attention two times daily from one of our radioiodine therapy technicians. During this time your cat will receive routine care (feeding, watering, litter change, cage clean-up). We operate on a lights-on / lights-off basis. For normal daylight hours we provide natural lighting and music for our patients.
- Your cat should be discharged from our care in a non-cardboard carrier. ...
- Keep your cat indoors (or, if outside, the cat should be under your direct supervision and on a leash in order to minimize the possibility of radiation exposure to other people) for 14 days after release from our hospital.
What are the risks of radioactive iodine treatment?
- Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. ...
- Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity.
- Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. ...
What are the side effects of radioactive iodine therapy?
Temporary side effects of RAI may include:
- Neck tenderness and swelling.
- Nausea.
- Swollen salivary glands.
- Loss of taste or taste change.
- Dry mouth/insufficient salivary production.
- Dry eyes.
- Excessive tearing from the eyes.
What to expect after radioactive iodine treatment?
You can expect to live a fairly normal life after radioactive iodine treatment but your life will probably not be exactly as it was before your procedure. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'.
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?
Long term side effects of radioactive iodine treatment vary depending on:
- your age
- other medical conditions
- your dose of radioactive iodine
Can I touch my cat after radioactive iodine treatment?
Your cat may be slightly woozy when you pick them up. For the first two weeks after I-131: Keep your cat indoors or supervised when outside to prevent contact with other people. Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day.
How long can a cat live after radioactive iodine treatment?
“Studies have shown that cats treated with I-131 live longer than those treated with pills,” added Mosenco, citing a study where I-131-treated cats lived an average of four to five years following treatment, versus an average of only two years for cats on medication.
How long to stay away from pets after radioactive iodine?
Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days.
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine for cats?
Cats may also continue to show signs of hyperthyroidism, including vomiting and diarrhea, for 3-4 weeks after the radioiodine therapy as the disease continues to resolve. The risk to these cats is the simple fact that many cats in the age range when cats develop hyperthyroidism (8+ years) also develop other diseases.
Can you be around pets after radioactive iodine treatment?
It is safe to be around your cats after you are treated with radioiodine therapy because even if they are in your lap, the exposure is low. People do sweat out the radioiodine, but if you wash your hands regularly, that is very effective in washing away the small amount of contamination on your hands.
What is the life expectancy of a cat with hyperthyroidism?
The median survival times reported are 25 (iodine 131 treatment),1 24 (radioiodine treatment),2 and 48 months (iodine 131 treatment),3 with a more recent paper citing 14 months (carbimazole or methimazole treatment alone or in combination with thyroidectomy).
Can my cat be around other cats after radioactive iodine treatment?
GUIDELINES FOR CAT OWNERS AFTER RADIOIODINE THERAPY. Cats treated with radioiodine (I-131) have a low level of radioactivity following discharge from the hospital. This level is sufficiently low that complete isolation of the cat from people is not required.
How do you clean a room after radioactive iodine treatment?
The iodine-131 will wash out in the laundry. Vacuuming will pick up hair that is shed, which will have small amounts of radioactivity in it since our heads also sweat. The conservative approach would be to cover the chair with a sheet.
How do you dispose of radioactive cat litter?
Store waste in a well-ventilated space away from your primary living areas, and hold for an additional 2 weeks so natural decay will reduce radioactivity to background levels. Then the litter may be disposed with the normal trash.
What is the best food to feed a cat with hyperthyroidism?
It is best to feed: Canned or raw diets, that contain little to no fruits, vegetables, or grains. Any canned cat food is better than any dry, which contains too much carbohydrate and plant-based protein.
Should I put my cat down with hyperthyroidism?
When to put a cat to sleep with hyperthyroidism is a heartbreaking decision. If your cat is in pain and has lost a lot of weight or declining health, then it may be time to consider euthanasia. If your cat, however, is still relatively healthy and comfortable, then you may want to wait a little longer.
How expensive is radioactive iodine treatment for cats?
$1500- $1550The cost for radio iodine therapy is generally a total fee of $1500- $1550, depending on the I131 dosage required for your cat's treatment. This includes the radio iodine itself, the cost of hospitalization, food, litter, and monitoring. This is comparable to the cost of surgical removal.
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 ...
How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?
Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed based on a combination of history, physical exam findings and an elevated thyroid level. Most cats with hyperthyroidism have a palpable thyroid nodule.
What are treatment options for hyperthyroidism?
Treatment options include methimazole, radioactive iodine (I131) and surgery. Surgery is rarely recommended unless a malignant thyroid tumor is suspected.
How does I131 work?
The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that concentrates iodine. The gland cannot differentiate between normal iodine consumed in food and radioactive iodine (I131). Radioactive iodine is given as a single SQ injection. After the injection, the radioiodine is concentrated in the hyperactive abnormal thyroid tissue thus destroying it.
About our program
If you are interested in radioactive iodine therapy for your cat, we ask that you schedule a consult to go over the treatment with any SAGE internal medicine specialist. At this appointment, your cat will be evaluated for any other problems and different treatment options will be discussed.
I131 treatment
We will admit cats on Tuesdays and they will be treated that day. They will typically be released on Friday afternoon. While they are at SAGE, they will be fed twice daily and receive routine care such as litter change, water, cage clean-up. We also play videos and music during the day.
After I131 treatment
You will need to have limited contact with your cat for 2 weeks after treatment (ie limited time sitting on your lap and no sleeping with you). See the owner release instructions form for more details.
Monitoring post I131 treatment
Kidney values and a T4 should be measured 1 month and 3 months after treatment. This helps monitor for any kidney disease which could be “unmasked” once the thyroid is normalized. Some cats will have a period of subclinical hypothyroidism where the T4 is low and normally does not require therapy. This typically resolves within 3 months.
How long does radioactive iodine last?
Radioactive iodine has a half life of about eight days. This means, after eight days, half of it will have decayed into other elements. After 16 days only one quarter remains, etc., etc. What the doctor is trying to do is to let the radioiodine decay to a safe level.
Why do animals get healthier from radiation?
So instead of forming cancers and mutations the animals get healthier because of there immune systems eliminating damaged cells.
How long does it take for a cat to be treated with radioiodine?
Typically cats treated with radioiodine in our facility spend a total of 3-6 days with us following the radioiodine therapy.
How long does it take for a cat to be discharged from a hospital?
Typically cats treated with radioiodine in our facility spend a total of 3-6 days with us following the radioiodine therapy. The majority of cats are discharged 3 days following their radioiodine therapy. Some cats with larger tumors require larger radioiodine doses and therefore require longer hospitalization periods prior to release.
What is the leading cause of death in cats?
Administering Subcutaneous Fluids. Hyperthyroidism is a disease of geriatric cats. Chronic kidney disease is common in geriatric cats and is currently the single leading cause of death in cats as a whole. A significant percentage of cats with hyperthyroidism (roughly 30%) have concurrent chronic kidney disease.
What is the hardest part of giving subcutaneous fluids to cats?
Furthermore, while the process of inserting the needle initially seems like the most difficult part of the process, the hardest part about giving subcutaneous fluids is actually preventing the cat from trying to leave the area during the administration process.
Can cats sit on the bathroom counter?
The cat can sit on the bathroom countertop or the top of the clothes drier during the process. Bathrooms or laundry rooms also have the advantage of surfaces that are easily cleaned if some of the fluids leak from the cat during or immediately following the administration.
Is the rate at which fluids enter the subcutaneous space of the cat directly proportional to the height differential between
Also keep in mind that the rate at which the fluids enter the subcutaneous space of the cat are directly proportional to the height differential between the bag and the cat. The relative height of the fluids bag hanging above the cat in a closet further contributes to a timely completion of the task.
