How is radioactive iodine used to treat thyroid in cats?
Feb 08, 2022 · How long do cats 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 does it take for iodine to work in cats?
How Long Do Cats Live After Radioactive Iodine Treatment? The study Mosenco cited showed that cats treated with I-131 lived an average of four to five years after treatment, as opposed to cats on medication who only lived two years after treatment.
Is radioiodine safe for cats?
How Long Do Cats Live After Radioactive Iodine Treatment? The study Mosenco cited showed that cats treated with I-131 lived an average of four to five years after treatment, as opposed to cats on medication who only lived two years after treatment.
What is the half-life of radioiodine in cats?
After their radio-iodine treatment, your cat will need some monitoring from your own vet – such as periodic clinical examinations, blood and urine tests, and blood pressure estimation. Typically we’d recommend these at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after treatment, but they can vary between cats (and vets!) and aren’t compulsory.
What are the benefits of radioactive iodine?
Benefits of radioactive iodine treatment 1 The treatment has a cure rate of 95-98%, although a small percentage of cats will require a second treatment 2 Cats treated with radioactive iodine live twice as long as those treated with medications 3 Radioactive iodine requires no anesthetic or surgery 4 No ongoing treatment such as medications or diet 5 Preserves the parathyroid gland 6 There are few to no side effects
What causes a cat to have a thyroid problem?
The disease is caused by a benign, hormone-secreting tumour on the thyroid gland which is located in the cat’s neck; these hormones control metabolism and growth. There are several treatment options for cats with hyperthyroidism which include: Prescription diet. Hills y/d is low in iodine, which is required by the thyroid gland to produce its ...
Can cats have kidney disease?
Hyperthyroidism leads to increased blood flow to the kidneys, which can mask kidney disease. Cats who are in poor health due to cardiac thyrotoxicosis are also not been suitable candidates for treatment.
Can cats take radioactive iodine?
The cat will receive a single injection subcutaneously (under the skin) of radioactive iodine. It is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and taken up by the diseased thyroid tissue. Cats who are difficult to handle may require sedation before administration of radioactive iodine.
Can parathyroidism be removed?
In some cases, the parathyroid gland may be accidentally damaged or removed during this procedure , resulting in hypo parathyroidism. To destroy the tumour which is the focus of this article. Some of these treatments manage the condition (medications and diet), while others cure it (surgery or radioactive iodine).
What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism may be the single most commonly diagnosed hormonal disease in cats next to diabetes. It is generally a disease of older cats with an average age around 9-10+ years, but can be seen in cats as young as 5 years of age.
How does radioiodine (131Iodine) work to treat the hyperthyroidism?
The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that concentrates iodine actively. However, the glands cannot differentiate between normal dietary iodine and radioactive iodine (131I). Therefore, the radioiodine is concentrated by the hyperactive, abnormal thyroid tissue.
How is the radioiodine administered?
The protocol for administering radioactive iodine at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center is by the subcutaneous route (under the skin). The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection under the skin in the region of the inner thigh.
How long will my cat have to stay in the hospital after the treatment?
The hospitalization period varies from cat to cat, but is generally - between 5-8 days. The effective half-life of the radioiodine (decay of radioactivity) can be quite variable depending upon each cat’s ability to excrete via the kidneys and the amount of time the radioiodine is bound to the thyroid.
How will my cat be cared for during their stay?
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.
What happens once my cat is released from the hospital?
The after care for your pet after being released from the hospital includes holding their litter out from normal trash for two weeks. To achieve this you can place it into a double garbage bag and place it in an unoccupied area or you can use flushable litter during the two week period.
What type of monitoring should be done post radioiodine treatment?
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (kidney values) should be measured at 1 month and 3 months after the radioiodine treatment. This helps monitor for kidney disease which can be unapparent while the patient has hyperthyroidism but can become clinically noticeable once the thyroid levels have returned to normal.
How long does it take for a cat to show signs of hyperthyroidism?
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.
What happens when X-rays pass through the body?
When x-rays, or any ionizing radiation, pass through the body they cause electrons to be ejected from atoms, leaving behind positive ions. These positive ions, or free radicals, can cause damage to DNA. DNA can also be damaged directly by radiation. If DNA is damaged, there are three possible outcomes:
Can hyperthyroidism be diagnosed?
Ultimately of course, these conditions can be diagnosed. However once the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism has been made, and no other illnesses are identified, the motivation to perform further diagnostics, especially those that require the need for anesthetics or are invasive may be lost.
Is radioactive iodine dangerous?
The risks of ingesting radioactive iodine and the risks of being around a patient that has been treated with radioactive iodine are very different. 1.) Risk to the patient: Risks related to radioiodine: The radioiodine (I-131) used to treat thyroid disease in people and animals emits both gamma rays and beta particles.
What happens if DNA is damaged?
If DNA is damaged, there are three possible outcomes: The cell dies (only occurs with very high doses). The cell repairs itself perfectly (most common result). The cell repairs itself with mistakes (rare). The inaccurate repair of DNA is rare, but can cause a cell to act wildly or grow into a cancer.
Does radioactive iodine cause thyroid cancer?
Hence for a transient period following radioiodine therapy, the patient's urine contains excreted radioiodine which will emit beta particles as it continues to decay. The risks associated with low level ingestion of radioactive iodine relate to an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Can cats have thyroid disease?
Another significant risk for hyperthyroid cats is not actually related to their thyroid disease. Once the correct dose of radioiodine has been determined and administered, most of the time the tumors responsible for causing the elevated thyroid levels resolve and the cats are cured.