The iodine is taken into the thyroid gland and incorporated into thyroxine. Only about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10. Keeping your pets food temperature just right. A medication called methimazole, which interferes with thyroid hormone production, is less expensive but requires daily administration. Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. It is acceptable to feed your feline products containing at least 30% protein and less than 15% carbohydrates. Subscribe to always know when we add new material! Cats managed with diet or medication generally do well as long as their feeding is consistent, their medication is administered routinely, and follow-up blood and diagnostic tests are performed as scheduled. If left untreated, a hyperthyroid cat can exhibit many, if not all, of the following signs: extreme weight loss, excessive appetite in most cases, but decreased appetite in some, muscle weakness, heart disease (increase in the size of the heart, increased rate, changes in heart rhythm, cardiac arrest), intolerance to stress, and eventually death. Laura Porter / Verywell How long can a cat live after radioactive iodine treatment? You can't visit Fluffy during his stay at the veterinary facility. Finally, thyroid hormone has a role in kidney function and blood flow that may result in either directly damaging the kidney or obscuring underlying kidney disease that your cat may already have. Oftentimes it takes decades for cancer to be detected following radiation exposure. Radioactive iodine is a treatment for an overactive thyroid gland. Committee on Environmental Health. Having lost my 18-year-old feline member of the family a few years ago, I completely understand the attachment and your desire to not stress the cat. Dietary Therapy . Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies. The most common clinical sign of hyperthyroidism is weight loss due to the increased rate of metabolism despite an increased appetite. The injection has no direct side effects. The average age of cats with hyperthyroidism is approximately 12 years and about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10 years of age. Chance of significant, unhealthy weight gain is increased. Exposure to high levels of dietary iodine may cause susceptible cats to develop hyperthyroidism. It requires two round-trips for you. 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. Luckily these risks will diminish in time following successful radioiodine therapy and a return to a persistently normal thyroid level. 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. Now that I know my cat has hyperthyroidism, what do I do? Several complications of hyperthyroidism can be significant, includinghypertension(high blood pressure) and a heart disease called thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. My pet has kidney disease what kind of diet should I feed. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment. The inaccurate repair of DNA is rare, but can cause a cell to act wildly or grow into a cancer. A standard Chest x-ray is 0.1 mSv. First we need to put this exposure level into some context: How do x-rays increase your risk for cancer? The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: What testing equipment and protective clothing do you recommend for a nontechnical person who will be giving home care to an 18-year-old blind cat after he has spent four days recovering in the animal hospital from 131I treatment? Your veterinarian's instructions regarding separation for the two weeks are simply doing the same thing we do with people. Slater M.R., Komkov A., Robinson L.E., et al., Long-Term Follow-up of Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine-131. Affected cats are often restless and may become cranky or aggressive. There are two types of radiation exposure that your vet is trying to minimizeexternal exposure from the radioactive material within the cat's body, and the radioactive materials in the cat's urine and other bodily fluids released by the cat that you may come into contact with and may end up being ingested or absorbed by you accidentally. The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. For some cats, a veterinary therapeutic diet low in iodine may be all thats required to control symptoms. 2 The goal of RAI treatment is to restore euthyroidism while avoiding the development of hypothyroidism. There are several hypothesized causes of hyperthyroidism. Their hyperthyroidism won't come back, and they don't need ongoing medication. Many doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant for 6 months to a year after treatment. In cats, an underactive thyroid is extremely rare. A treated cat has to remain hospitalized until its radiation level has fallen to within acceptable limits. As with surgery, you may need to take thyroid hormone . Many times the only symptoms these other conditions cause are weight loss. This treatment involves administering an injection of iodine with a radioactive substance attached. We love them, too! Standards for Protection against Radiation. Radioactive iodine therapy. If thyroid disease is a possibility, your veterinarian will likely order a blood chemistry panel and an analysis of thyroid hormone levels. Weight gain after RAI is typical. This I131 injection accumulates in the abnormal thyroid tissue, and the radioactivity kills the abnormal tissue without harming other vital structures nearby. Recurrence of hyperthyroidism is rare after I-131 therapy. Symptoms include weight loss, muscle wasting, increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, unkempt appearance, and sometimes hyperactivity. By 14 days after treatment, the radioactivity will have decayed to a very low level. The cell repairs itself with mistakes (rare). 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. Radioactive iodine treatment is a therapy that your veterinary surgeon may recommend if your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Certain studies suggest that in some hyperthyroid cats, limiting the amount of iodine in the diet may be a viable option for treating this disease. Treatment Weight change was analyzed in only 228 patients and 84% gained weight by 1 year after radioactive iodine therapy. Often, treating hyperthyroidism will unmask hidden kidney failure that will require additional care and is best detected early in the course of the disease. Fewer than 2% of hyperthyroid cases in cats involve malignant thyroid gland tumors. One way to treat a cat with hyperthyroidism is with an oral medication that contains methimazole. 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. Over time, this progresses to increased blood pressure, severe weight loss, heart disease, blindness, and kidney damage. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society. Methimazole is also given before surgery to determine if the cat has a secondary medical condition, such as kidney or liver disease masked by hyperthyroidism. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. While my facility does not treat cats with radioactive 131I, I have consulted with a veterinary medicine program at a nearby university that does perform these types of procedures to get myself in the "cat-patient" mode of thought. The iodine, which is required for the production of both T3 and T4, is taken up by the thyroid gland and the emitted radiation destroys the abnormal thyroid tissue without damaging the surrounding tissues or the parathyroid glands. There are virtually no side effects, and there is no pain associated with 131I treatment. GFR results are used to determine the functional status of the kidneys, and identify cats with subclinical renal disease. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (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? To answer these questions we have to separate the risks associated with internalizing (i.e., ingesting) radioactive iodine from the risks of being around a patient that has been treated with radioactive iodine. All three have risks and benefits. Each treatment option has its advantages and disadvantages. Recurrence of the disease is a possibility in some cats. Surgery will be performed if your cat successfully undergoes the initial treatment without complication. Surgery. Why is the average risk of developing cancer so high? Surgical removal of the gland under general anesthetic was another option. In more serious cases, surgical removal of the thyroid glands may be required. 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. If hypertension is diagnosed along with hyperthyroidism, drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure and reduce the risk of damaging other organs. Radioactive iodine therapy is curative within three months of therapy in approximately 95 percent of all hyperthyroid cases. However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. 7. The chronic elevation of circulating thyroid hormone levels in cats with hyperthyroidism leads to changes in their heart muscle that predispose them to developing heart failure. 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?). The radioiodine is eliminated in urine and feces. About 25% of cats with hyperthyroidism become hypertensive. We fed him some Fancy Feast again last night and he ate it all without vomiting. Want to read more information on feeding your pet? If surgery is the chosen treatment method, the anti-thyroid medication methimazole (Tapazole, Felimazole) may be prescribed for several weeks before the operation. I-131 therapy does not require anesthesia and eliminates the need for daily medication. Looking for a convenient way to access your pets health records, refill prescriptions, view upcoming appointments and more? Most cats with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism will live several years following treatment of hyperthyroidism, unless they develop another disease. 35(3): p. 204-209. The medication can be given life-long or to stabilize the cat before other treatment. What are other nutritional concerns for my hyperthyroid cat? Risk of Ionizing Radiation Exposure to Children: A Subject Review. 1. Upon discharge from PVESC (after an average of 4 to 7 days after treatment), treated cats will still be excreting radioiodine in their urine, saliva, and feces. There are currently no known preventive measures for hyperthyroidism, but early diagnosis decreases the secondary problems and improves the prognosis. Natural background radiation exposure accounts for an average of 3.1 mSv/yr with variations depending on where you live. Depending on the dose, radioactive iodine can kill a portion, or all, of your thyroid. Miles K.G., Simpson S.A., Zimmerman R.B., et al. 1 Radioactive iodine (RAI)] is generally considered the optimal treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. Special attention should be given to the thyroid glands to look for evidence of enlargement and the clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. But those instruments are quite expensive and are not readily available in stores. For comparison, the dose for a standard Chest CT is 7 mSv. Because of the short distances they travel they never exit the patient and as a result no one other than the patient is at risk from exposure to the beta particles unless they internalized the radioiodine excreted by the patient. She's lost a pound in less than two weeks, so yeah, I'm glad I let her eat as much as she wanted. For example, some families cant medicate cats every day, so a more permanent solution such as radioactive iodine treatment or surgery may be best. Cats exclusively fed the prescription diet will remain normal, but if the diet is discontinued, they will once again become hyperthyroid. I might even suggest using disposable gloves when handling the litter box duties and when caring for the cat during the isolation time. However, the risk is minimal if your cat is otherwise healthy, and the initial diagnostic tests and treatment did not reveal any underlying conditions. The principle advantage of Radioactive Iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism is that it tends to have a much higher success rate than medications. Although the cause of feline hyperthyroidism is not known, possible contributing factors include deficiencies or excesses of certain compounds in the diet and chronic exposure to thyroid-disrupting chemicals in food or the environment. Some places realize that the stress of being away from home for so long is not good for older cats. This means that our radioactive materials license requires our practice ensure that our clients receive less than 1 mSv of radiation exposure as the result of our treatment of their hyperthyroid cat with radioiodine. Only the bare necessitiesfood and water and quick litter cleanupsare provided by veterinary technicians during your cat's hospital stay. At 1 and 3 months after the treatment, a blood test for thyroid and kidney function should be done by your veterinarian. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a. . Our cat was treated for hyperthyroidism and has been back home for about two weeks. That was part of the problem we had before treatment. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of an animal. Consider Hyperthyroid Treatment . Prescription nutrition. The word "individuals" in this context means "people". So, we must use distance and reduction of time near the source when dealing with patients and pets treated with 131I. 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). Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routines. The prognosis for cats with hyperthyroidism is generally good with appropriate therapy. . In a study of 524 hyperthyroid cats treated with I-131, only 11/524 (2.1%) developed If both thyroid glands require removal, there is a risk of developing hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) after surgery. You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. Survival Times for Cats with Hyperthyroidism Treated with Iodine 131, Methimazole, or Both, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part020/, Determination of Release Criteria for I-131 Therapy Cats, Risk of Ionizing Radiation Exposure to Children: A Subject Review, Hormesis: From Marginalization to Mainstream: A Case for Hormesis as the Default Dose-Response Model in Risk Assessment. 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. As to your question about "home-testing equipment" and "something else to monitor and determine (your) exposure," there really are no good options for that. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 2006. The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection . Hyperthyroidism & Liver Function in Cats, Intervals of Depo-Medrol Injections for Cats. Elevated thyroid hormones stimulate an increased heart rate and a stronger contraction of the heart muscle, and can cause thickening of the left ventricle of the heart over time. (At my facility we treat people but many of the concepts are the same, it is just that patient compliance is easier to obtain with people.) Domestic airline pilots are exposed to an additional 2.2 mSv per year, about the same dose as a brain CT. As you can see from the table below, the estimated risk of developing cancer from exposure to 0.1 Gy (= 100mSv), while it varies with the age of the individual, is something less than 1% for adults. . Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats, and mostly afflicts cats middle-aged and older. 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. 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. This may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. Due to the damaging effects of hyperthyroid-induced hypertension on your cats kidneys, blood kidney values must be reassessed once the thyroxine level has normalized, even if they were normal on initial blood tests. Nearly all cats will be cured by a second treatment. This problem resolved rapidly after treatment. When the dose of radiation to the thyroid is very low, like might occur by accidental ingestion of litter box contents, then mutations leading to cancer can ensue. If the disease involves both lobes of the thyroid gland, two surgeries may be required, depending on the surgeon's choice of procedures. Occasionally, a cat suspected of having hyperthyroidism has a TT4 level within the upper range of normal. 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. During that time, the ravenous appetite should subside, your cat will probably gain weight, and her blood pressure and heart rate should normalize. TheCatSite.com participates in select affiliate advertising programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When choosing the best therapy for an individual cat, many factors must be considered. 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. 3. The American Thyroid Association notes that weight gain develops over a long time and may have many causes other than the underactive thyroid.
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