Prior to the onset of symptoms he was eating a high quality dry cat food but when he started losing weight and begging for food we were told we could . As with surgery, you may need to take thyroid hormone . If hypertension is diagnosed along with hyperthyroidism, drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure and reduce the risk of damaging other organs. This usually leads to permanent destruction of the thyroid, which will cure hyperthyroidism. An anti-thyroid medication, like methimazole. When this occurs, a second test, usually afree T4 by equilibrium dialysis (FT4 by ED)or aT3 suppression test,is performed. Despite the extensive blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and physical exams that we require before radioiodine therapy, some of these conditions remain undiagnosed at the time of radioiodine therapy. 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. There are three common forms of treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats: medication, radioactive iodine therapy and surgery. What is happening in this procedure is that a portion of the radioactive iodine is being taken up by the cat's thyroid to treat its condition (hyperthyroidism, I assume?). If you can't bear to be away from him, or if he becomes very stressed or frightened when you're not around, that isolation could be difficult. Ultimately of course, these conditions can be diagnosed. What are other nutritional concerns for my hyperthyroid cat? Your veterinarian has recommended I131 for your cat. It is important to remember that old age is not a disease. After treatment, the normal thyroid tissue will regain full function within 1-3 months. Some cats may experience side effects from medication, however, including vomiting, anorexia, fever, anemia, and lethargy. In almost all cases, your thyroid hormone levels will return to normal or below normal after radioactive iodine treatment. Facilities that use radioactive materials like I-131 must have radioactive materials licenses. 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. As for equipment for tracking radioactive contamination, there really is no readily available "home-testing" equipment. Of course some cats treated with radioiodine for their hyperthyroidism will go on to get cancer, but in the same proportion as hyperthyroid cats treated with methimazole or surgery. Risks from other illness. Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Robin Downing, DVM, CVPP, CCRP, DAAPM; Ernest Ward, DVM. (8,9) Replacement hormone products currently on the market, both synthetic and glandular, are not comparable to our own hormone, and in some people, never feel "right". Copyright 2019 Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging. Mean baseline age was 12.7 3.0 years and mean baseline BMI SDS was 0.003 1.18 kg/m 2. To help your cat gain weight, you need to increase the protein and . The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. For the same reasons as surgical treatment, your cat will likely be started on methimazole for about a month before radioactive iodine therapy. Risks related to radioiodine: The ALARA recommendation follows the classic "less is more" argument and hence adherence to this philosophy suggests that exposures to ionizing radiation should be minimized whenever possible. Many older cats with overactive thyroids have actual enlargement of the gland which can be felt in the neck by your veterinarian. I'm sure if he is still underweight, his body will be telling him to eat, eat, eat. Hyperthyroidism is a common condition in older cats. The other conditions that cats can develop at this age are numerous and varied. We found out about the radioactive iodine treatment and after lots.of research decided this was the way to go. Radioactive iodine treatment is a therapy that your veterinary surgeon may recommend if your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The prognosis for cats with hyperthyroidism is generally good with appropriate therapy. 2004. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. If left untreated and unmanaged, these changes may eventually compromise the normal function of the heart and can even lead to heart failure. However, your cat will still have a low amount of radiation in his or her body. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If radioactive iodine therapy won't work for you and your cat, alternatives are available. Is radioactive iodine treatment safe? Note that the reference above excluding licensee's from considering "exposure to individuals administered radioactive material" in their compliance with the NRC regulartions does not apply to animals. Protein and Carbohydrate Sources of Home-cooked Pet Diets, Deborah E. Linder, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition), Diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy: The cause is not yet known but it hasnt gone away, Too hot? 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.Dec 19, 2016. This I131 injection accumulates in the abnormal thyroid tissue, and the radioactivity kills the abnormal tissue without harming other vital structures nearby. Let's tackle the external exposure first as it is the simplest concept. Iodine-131, Hyperthyroidism, and Radioactive Iodine Therapy Iodine-131 (I-131) is a radioisotope of iodine with a physical half-life of 8.02 days; its primary decay emissions include a 606 keV - particle with 89.6% abundance and a 364 keV -ray with 81.5% abundance (Knolls Atomic Power Lab 2010). Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. Radioactive iodine may also affect a woman's ovaries, and some women may have irregular periods for up to a year after treatment. Set up your myVCA account today. Thyroid scintigraphy may also be recommended to confirm a diagnosis and determine the size of the organ before surgery or radioactive iodine. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications. Most cats respond to treatment within weeks, although some take up to 6 months to gain the full benefit. The remainder is gone in about the next two months or so. How does the risk from medical radiation compare to background radiation exposure? 8. Many owners of cats with hyperthyroidism are hesitant to have radiation therapy or surgery because of their cat's advanced age. Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. Hyperthyroidism is too much thyroid hormone that causes weight loss so kitty should gain some weight back to a normal amount after treatment. The routine stay in our radioactive iodine unit is currently 12 days. 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. Lack of appetite. No individual breed is known to have a greater risk, although Siamese, Burmese, Persian, Abyssinian, Tonkinese, and British shorthair breeds appear to have a somewhat decreased incidence of hyperthyroidism compared to other breeds. Methods: Therapy and body weight related data of 100 consecutive RITh-patients were retrospectively analysed from the time before up to three years after RITh. Get exceptional Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Feline Hyperthyroidism services from highly experienced & loving pet care professionals in Downers Grove, IL. This single treatment will cure 95-98% of cats. Some hyperthyroid cats have thyroid cells in abnormal locations calledectopicthyroid tissue (thyroid tissue under the tongue, further down the neck, or all the way to the base of the heart), and they may remain hyperthyroid after surgery. The anti-thyroid pill is methimazole, also known as Tapazole. And not only do we love the pets, we also love their people, and you are our reason for making this site. Answer posted on 30 March 2019. Side effects may include fluid retention, weight gain, elevated . Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. Cats receive a single dose of radioactive iodine by either subcutaneous injection or by a capsule given by mouth. A blood chemistry panel and urinalysis will provide information about other organs and provide your veterinarian with an overall picture of your cats health. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. Even after treatment it may take a long time to reverse weight loss and muscle loss that occurred before your cat's diagnosis. But this generally resolves without intervention. Many doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant for 6 months to a year after treatment. However, an overactive thyroid is quite common. Many organs are affected by hyperthyroidism, especially the heart. The study followed people for 26 years after two or more treatments. Thyroid hormones affect nearly all of the organs in the body; therefore, thyroid disease often causes secondary problems. About TheCatSite.com. The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection . Radioactive Iodine Therapy This cat is showing weight loss and poor coat - typical signs of hyperthyroidism. 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? Why isn't there a study directly linking medical imaging and cancer? You'll need to consider whether to have radioactive iodine (RAI) vs. other treatments for hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease (an immune system disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism). What Are The Side Effects Of Radioactive Iodine Treatment In Cats? Dr. Heinze is an employee of Mark Morris Institute and has provided professional serviceshas done consulting for Lafeber and WellPet, given sponsored talks for Nestl Purina PetCare and the Pet Food Institute, and provided professional services to Balance IT.com and Mark Morris Institute. You must log in or register to reply here. It is also common for hyperthyroid cats to exhibit increased vocalizing, particularly at night. The most common clinical sign of hyperthyroidism is weight loss due to the increased rate of metabolism despite an increased appetite. After initial stabilisation with oral medications, a number of curative treatments are also available. The radioiodine (I-131) used to treat thyroid disease in people and animals emits both gamma rays and beta particles. You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. Before deciding the form of treatment, several tests are performed, including additional blood tests, a urinalysis, chest radiographs (X-rays), an ECG, and blood pressure measurements. One major risk associated with surgical thyroidectomy is inadvertent damage to the parathyroid glands, which lie close to or within the thyroid gland and are crucial in maintaining stable blood calcium levels.