Cats with hyperthyroidism exhibit symptoms that are similar to those of humans with the disease: weight loss, increased appetite, excessive . Surgical removal of the affected thyroid gland(s) may be very effective. Your cat can receive methimazole, a medication that inhibits thyroid hormone production. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. Diagnosis It is also common for some cats to hide under the bed for a day or so after returning home as they de-stress following their out of home experience. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Thyroid scintigraphy may also be recommended to confirm a diagnosis and determine the size of the organ before surgery or radioactive iodine. Interestingly, when higher doses are given, like those received by the patient treated for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer, then the injury to the cells is terminal and hence the cells do not survive to go on to become malignant. The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Chance of significant, unhealthy weight gain is increased. In most cases, enlargement of thyroid glands is caused by a non-cancerous tumor called an adenoma. Category: Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. Luckily these risks will diminish in time following successful radioiodine therapy and a return to a persistently normal thyroid level. The word "individuals" in this context means "people". Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, on Long Island, Cornell Veterinary Experts Address Feline Nutrition. (a) Each licensee shall conduct operations so that -. 101(4 Pt 1): p. 717-9. The only method to estimate that dose is to measure the radioiodine within your own thyroid and the types of equipment to measure that uptake are very expensive and difficult to interpret. 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). Keeping your pets food temperature just right. If this is accompanied by clinical signs such as lethargy, obesity, and poor hair coat, then thyroid hormone supplementation may be required. . 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. Many older cats with overactive thyroids have actual enlargement of the gland which can be felt in the neck by your veterinarian. Some rare cases of hyperthyroid disease are caused by malignant tumors known as thyroid adenocarcinomas. The advantages of medication are that the drugs are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Effect of long-term continuous methimazole treatment of - PubMed Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine. The majority of cats treated with radioactive iodine have normal hormone levels within one to two weeks of treatment. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). An important take-away message about your newly-diagnosed hyperthyroid cat is that there is a wide range of treatment options, so you can likely find something that works for your family. To scientifically prove a connection would require nearly one million patients followed closely over decades to detect the small increased risk with any confidence. Most cats with hyperthyroidism have elevated levels of the thyroid hormone T4 in their bloodstream, but a small percentage of cats with hyperthyroidism have T4 levels within the normal range. 7 Things You Need to Know About Hyperthyroidism in Cats The treatment of choice for hyperthyroid cats is radioactive iodine therapy, which is a cure. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The thyroid cells are damaged or destroyed, but that's the whole idea other cells are left untouched. Because metabolism is altered in hyperthyroidism, it's important to monitor your cat's weight and muscle mass. Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day. 6. Clients frequently have the following 2 questions when considering radioiodine therapy for their cat's hyperthyroidism. However, there are a number of reasons for the precautions that your veterinarian has provided you that I will discuss below. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. The current Nuclear Regulatory Commission radiation dose limits for individual members of the public are listed below. Endocrinology, 1988. Research into this potential treatment option is ongoing. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society. . The medication can be given life-long or to stabilize the cat before other treatment. This I131 injection accumulates in the abnormal thyroid tissue, and the radioactivity kills the abnormal tissue without harming other vital structures nearby. The radioactive iodine is useful in treating the condition that your veterinarian has diagnosed in your cat. Iodine 131 Therapy | College of Veterinary Medicine The principle advantage of Radioactive Iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism is that it tends to have a much higher success rate than medications. 4. This is why one of the first signs of thyroid disease may be a change in weight weight gain if the thyroid is underactive and weight loss if the thyroid is overactive. It is acceptable to feed your feline products containing at least 30% protein and less than 15% carbohydrates. If possible, I would like to wear protective clothing so we can return to our familiar habit of living/sleeping in 24-hour close physical contact to minimize his stress and promote his recovery. What is taken up by the thyroid will be released slowly over the next days/weeks to the other bodily fluids which is why they have the precautions that you describe. 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? Cats exclusively fed the prescription diet will remain normal, but if the diet is discontinued, they will once again become hyperthyroid. The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. The average age of cats with hyperthyroidism is approximately 12 years and about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10 years of age. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment method for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. The remainder is gone in about the next two months or so. It does, however, involve the handling and injection of a radioactive substance that is only permitted at facilities specially licensed to use radioisotopes. I'll be honest, the last thing I (or my vet) worried about with Sara was gaining weight. Treatment failure in hyperthyroid cats after radioiodine (I131 Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine) Therapy for Thyroid Cancer 5 Best Cat Foods for Hyperthyroidism in 2023 - Hepper What they are trying to prevent is the intake (ingestion, etc.) What happens after my cat is released from the hospital? A standard Chest x-ray is 0.1 mSv. You can't visit Fluffy during his stay at the veterinary facility. This is because the parathyroid glands (responsible for calcium balance in the body) are near the thyroid gland and may be damaged or accidentally removed during surgery. With your cat's diseased thyroid, after methimazole treatment failed, large doses of iodine might have proven effective. You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. Feeding Hyperthyroid Cats Iodine restriction may help; weight loss is a . Each treatment option has its advantages and disadvantages. If methimazole dosing is discontinued, hyperthyroidism will return. With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine (radioiodine) by mouth. The delivery of iodine is targeted to the overactive thyroid gland(s), the cat does not experience any radiation side effects at the normal therapy doses used to treat hyperthyroidism. 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. If hypertension is diagnosed along with hyperthyroidism, drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure and reduce the risk of damaging other organs. That was part of the problem we had before treatment. Medication Consider Hyperthyroid Treatment . There are currently no known preventive measures for hyperthyroidism, but early diagnosis decreases the secondary problems and improves the prognosis. About TheCatSite.com. For this long-term treatment, the cat is injected with the radioactive iodine, which destroys the tissue of the overactive thyroid gland. Feline Hyperthyroidism - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (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". Dietary Therapy And I'm so glad she did, since her kidney disease (that unmasked after methimazole treatment) went from Stage 1 chronic to Stage 4 acute on chronic last weekend. By Risks related to radioiodine: Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Feline Hyperthyroidism Prognosis Diet and Weight Loss Tips for Thyroid Patients - Verywell Health 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. 1 Radioactive iodine (RAI)] is generally considered the optimal treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. AAFCO Doesnt Approve Pet Foods, A broken heart: Risk of heart disease in boutique or grain-free diets and exotic ingredients, Its Not Just Grain-Free: An Update on Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy.