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Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Feline Hyperthyroidism:
Commonly Asked Questions
 How does the radioactive iodine cure hyperthyroidism in my cat? Radioactive compounds kill rapidly dividing cells such as tumor cells on contact. Once injected into the body, the tumor cells actively trap radioactive iodine and the cells are irradiated and destroyed. Because normal thyroid tissue has become dormant due to suppression by the pituitary gland, it does not take up any of the 131I compound and is spared the effects of radiation. Therefore, in virtually all cases, hyperthyroidism can be eliminated without causing the opposite effect, which is hypothyroidism. What are the expected results of the treatment? More than 95% of cats given a single dose of radioactive iodine will return to normal thyroid function within a month of treatment. Others may be normal in three months. A very small percentage of cats treated with the compound will not be cured. Some of these cats may have a thyroid carcinoma. Carcinomas are more resistant to radioactivity and may need retreatment. These cats will usually be cured after a second treatment done three to four months later. Adverse effects associated with the treatment are rare. There may be mild discomfort in the neck and difficulty swallowing for a few days due to a transient thyroiditis. Permanent hypothyroidism can occur, but usually limited to cats receiving doses of radioactive iodine in excess of those normally given. Hyperthyroidism often masks signs and symptoms of other diseases. Kidney disease, endocrine disease such as diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease are among diseases that may emerge post-treatment. There is no medical evidence that the doses of radioactive iodine given to cats cause other diseases. Observable changes in cats after successful treatment may include weight gain, better hair, coat and grooming habits, normal appetite, absence of vomiting, a greater tendency to "cat nap" during the day and sleep at night. Is my cat a candidate for treatment? Radcats Treatment Center accepts medically stable cats for treatment. Cats with kidney disease or symptomatic heart disease are poor candidates and need to be stabilized before treatment. You and your veterinarian have the responsibility to ensure that your cat is fit for travel and treatment. What pretreatment evaluation is needed? We would request the following from your veterinarian:
Also recommended are an electro-cardiogram and chest radiographs. Other studies such as cardiac ultrasound or thyroid scans may be performed at the discretion of the referring veterinarian or our clinicians. It is our aim to encourage your veterinarian to perform pretreatment evaluations. We will accept results from studies performed by your veterinarian within 30 days of your treatment appointment. Decisions to accept results beyond that time will be made by our clinicians. We reserve the right to repeat any tests at our discretion after reviewing the referred results. Should your cat be referred without pretreatment evaluation, those studies will be performed here and you will be charged accordingly. If your cat has been on an anti-thyroid drug like Tapazole, please stop the medication 3 days before your appointment. What is the cost and how do I pay? The current fee, as of January 1, 2007, is $1150. This fee includes the treatment and hospitalization. This fee does not include any services for cardiac diagnostics, additional laboratory tests, or unforeseen complications. A $400 deposit is necessary when the appointment is made to guarantee the dose of radioactive iodine and the treatment date. This deposit is fully refundable if the appointment is rescheduled or canceled within 72 hours of the appointed date. The balance is due upon admission to the Center. We accept cash, personal checks, Mast Card, Visa, American Express, and Care Credit. What arrangements will I need to make to have my cat treated? Call the Center to set an appointment date. Generally, your veterinarian will have sent pretreatment evaluation results to us prior to your call. If your veterinarian has not sent results, we will call and request the information. You will be given directions to the Center if you are driving from out of town. Some cats may benefit from sedation prior to a drive or an airplane trip to the Center. The need for sedation should be decided by you and your veterinarian. What happens while my cat is at the center? When you and your cat arrive, you will be greeted by one of our Radiation Treatment Technicians who will care for your cat while it is being treated. Our technicians will explain procedures, answer questions, and review any special requests for your cat's care. We have a variety of foods on hand to ensure that even the most finicky eater will be pleased. Should your cat have specific preferences or dietary needs, please let us know or perhaps bring some of that special food along with your cat. Items such as toys and blankets may be left with your cat for the duration of the stay. However, due to radioactive contamination, these items cannot be return to you. You and your pet will then see the attending veterinarian who will examine your cat, review the pretreatment evaluation, and discuss any concerns with you. If your cat is transported here and you are not present, our veterinarian will telephone you after evaluation and treatment. Prior to 131I treatment, a small area of hair on your cat's side will be shaved at the site of the injection. Next, a precise amount of radioactive iodine will be injected under the skin. This injection is comparable to an annual vaccination and is not painful. After your cat has been injected, one of our technicians will call you to let you know how your cat is doing. For the rest of the treatment time, your cat will enjoy soft music in our comfortable, climate-controlled radiation isolation facility. Our technicians visit all cats twice daily to feed, water, change litter pans, and read cards from home. Because cats treated with 131I are radioactive during their stay, access to the isolation facility is strictly limited to our trained radiation personnel who wear radiation monitoring devices at all times. Therefore, it is not possible for you to enter the facility and visit your cat during the radiation isolation time. However, you are welcome to call us to check up on your pet and to pass on any pats or messages. You may also e-mail us or your cat at radcats@aol.com. Radiation safety regulations mandate that we keep cats in our isolation facility until their levels of radiation do not pose a threat to human health. Most cats will stay at the Center for 3 days. Your cat will have its radiation level measured beginning 2 days post-treatment. You will be called when your pet is ready to go home. Hyperthyroid cats are older citizens and owners are often concerned their pets won't do well during their period of hospitalization. However, after treating hundreds of cats at our Center, our experience has been that all cats "do well." We consider ourselves to be quite experienced in fulfilling the needs of hyperthyroid cats and their owners. What precautions are necessary when my cat returns home? We suggest common sense safety precautions for 10 days following your pet's return home. Confine your cat to the house. Limit close contact between your cat and people. Use gloves and litter pan liners, and double bag litter in plastic bags. Do not let your cat sleep with you. Pregnant women should have no contact with your cat or the litter box for 21 days. A more detailed set of guidelines is included with the release form you will receive when your cat is discharged. How will I know if my cat is cured? A blood sample to check the serum thyroid hormone levels should be taken by your veterinarian at 30 days and 90 days after treatment. This information should be sent to us. It is expected that most cats have normal values at the 30-day evaluation. A few treated cats may take 2 to 3 months to return to normal levels. |
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