Treatment
The treatment of the hyperthyroid condition using radioactive Iodine consists of
injecting a single dose of radioactive Iodine into the cat. The injection is
given subcutaneously (under the skin) just like most vaccinations are given. Once
in the body, Iodine is normally concentrated in the thyroid gland and those cells that are
most active (i.e. thyroid tumor cells) will absorb most of the Iodine. Since the
radioactive Iodine is absorbed the same way as regular Iodine, most of the radioactive
Iodine is absorbed by the active tumor cells. The radioactivity then kills these
cells but does very little damage to the normal thyroid cells.
Since the action of radioactive Iodine is specific to the thyroid gland, there are none
of the adverse side effects seen with other types of radiation therapy such as vomiting or
loss of hair. The side effects from this treatment are extremely rare. Some
cats may experience mild discomfort of the thyroid region but this typically resolves
itself. Occasionally, a cat will become hypothyroid (underactive thyroid gland).
In most cases, this does not present any problem for the cat but sometimes a cat
will require thyroid supplement.
Through normal bodily processes, the radioactive Iodine is then removed from the body,
primarily in the urine and, to a lesser degree, in the feces. Most of the
radioactive Iodine will be removed from your cat before he/she goes home, however, there
will be a residual amount and you will have to take some precautions
at home during the first two weeks.
Hospitalization
Since this procedure involves treatment with a radioactive compound, there are specific
laws and regulations which must be followed regarding the handling, administration and
disposal of the radioactive material. This means that your cat will have to be
confined to a specific room until the level of radioactivity drops below a certain point
(this normally takes 5-7 days). Our radioiodine room has been designed in accordance
with the regulations to ensure the safety of the public and the workers and has also been
designed for the comfort of your cat in mind. The cages your cat will stay in are
large, with a shelf for those cats who like to get up on things or a cubby hole for those
cats who like to hide. The room has a sound system as well and tapes of natural
sounds from the rain forests will be played. If your cat has a favorite toy, you can
bring it but you must understand, that following treatment, the toy will be considered
contaminated and you will not get it back.
Also, due to the radioactive nature of the treatment, only trained hospital staff can
enter the treatment room so visitation is not allowed. We will however, call you
with daily updates on your pet's progress or you may call us at any time to see how your
pet is doing..
Making An Appointment
Treatments will only be performed on a referral basis from your regular veterinarian.
He/she is most familiar with the medical history and overall health of your cat.
In addition, there are some pre treatment testing that he/she will do to ensure
that your pet is a good candidate for this treatment. Once the pre treatment testing
has been completed, we will consult with your veterinarian regarding the results and if
everything looks good, you can call our office and speak to Dr. Eger. She will make
an appointment for the treatment and review with you the schedule for stopping the
medications your cat is on. She will also answer any questions you may have about
the treatment.
On the morning of your appointment, you can feed your cat his/her normal amount of food
- there is no need for fasting. However, if you are driving some distance and your
cat tends to get car sick, you may want to refrain from feeding too much. When you
arrive at the appointment time, Dr. Eger will examine your pet and answer any additional
questions you may have. Please bring with you a few cans of your cat's food or
at least the name of the food you normally feed your cat, so we can be sure we feed your
cat the same food he/she is used to.
KINDNESS
ANIMAL HOSPITAL