If methimazole dosing is discontinued, hyperthyroidism will return. The prognosis for cats with hyperthyroidism is generally good with appropriate therapy. Anti-thyroid drugs act by reducing the production and release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). Your veterinarian's instructions regarding separation for the two weeks are simply doing the same thing we do with people. Weight change was analyzed in only 228 patients and 84% gained weight by 1 year after radioactive iodine therapy. . . Regardless of the medication, blood tests should be conducted periodically during treatment to evaluate whether the therapy is effective and to monitor kidney function and for potential side effects. Discuss these issues with your veterinarian when considering dietary iodine restriction as a treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. Side effects may include fluid retention, weight gain, elevated . The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection . When x-rays, or any ionizing radiation, pass through the body they cause electrons to be ejected from atoms, leaving behind positive ions. 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. The slow onset of signs means that cat owners will often miss these changes until the late stages of disease. The required dose of methimazole can change over time, so monitoring thyroid levels in treated animals is recommended every 3-6 months once their condition is stable. Annual blood and urine tests are important in all cats seven years and older to detect hyperthyroidism before potentially irreversible damage occurs. In the hospital (or veterinary hospitals) we would use a Geiger counter with a thin-window probe to find the radioactive contamination. Both cardiomyopathy and hypertension are potentially reversible with appropriate treatment of the disease. Out little Nera was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 4-5 months ago. For this long-term treatment, the cat is injected with the radioactive iodine, which destroys the tissue of the overactive thyroid gland. 8. Cats with hyperthyroidism exhibit symptoms that are similar to those of humans with the disease: weight loss, increased appetite, excessive . It is best to perform a nuclear scan before surgery to rule out ectopic thyroid tissue. The word "individuals" in this context means "people". 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. Radioactive iodine is a treatment for an overactive thyroid gland. When this occurs, a second test, usually afree T4 by equilibrium dialysis (FT4 by ED)or aT3 suppression test,is performed. Thank you! 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). And not only do we love the pets, we also love their people, and you are our reason for making this site. 1. 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. In most cases, only enough radioiodine is given to destroy that part of the gland that is functioning . Despite the extensive blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and physical exams that we require before . Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). The outcomes following most hyperthyroid therapies are usually excellent, and most cats have a very good chance of returning to a normal state of health. So, we must use distance and reduction of time near the source when dealing with patients and pets treated with 131I. Only the bare necessitiesfood and water and quick litter cleanupsare provided by veterinary technicians during your cat's hospital stay. It has the advantage of being curative in most cases with no ongoing treatment. However, your cat will still have a low amount of radiation in his or her body. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Laura Porter / Verywell Companion Animal Hospital in Ithaca, NY for cats, dogs, exotics, and wildlife, Equine and Nemo Farm Animal Hospitals in Ithaca, NY for horses and farm animals, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, on Long Island for every horse, Ambulatory and Production Medicine for service on farms within 30 miles of Ithaca, NY, Animal Health Diagnostic Center New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca, New York 14853-6401. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2004. About 25% of cats with hyperthyroidism become hypertensive. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. Risks from other illness. Thyroid hormones affect nearly all of the organs in the body; therefore, thyroid disease often causes secondary problems. You should use the following methods for disposing of your cat's waste that may contain trace amounts of radiation. The radioiodine (I-131) used to treat thyroid disease in people and animals emits both gamma rays and beta particles. 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. TheCatSite.com participates in select affiliate advertising programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some cats may experience side effects from medication, however, including vomiting, anorexia, fever, anemia, and lethargy. Weight gain after RAI is typical. Even after treatment it may take a long time to reverse weight loss and muscle loss that occurred before your cat's diagnosis. Cats exclusively fed the prescription diet will remain normal, but if the diet is discontinued, they will once again become hyperthyroid. These include surgical removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) or treatment with radioactive iodine. As the thyroid levels return to normal, some cats may be able to adjust to their new diets quickly after treatment. Prognosis All three have risks and benefits. 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. When an injection of radioactive iodine is given, it destroys the abnormal thyroid tissue without endangering other organs. The radioactive iodine is useful in treating the condition that your veterinarian has diagnosed in your cat. The most common clinical sign of hyperthyroidism is weight loss due to the increased rate of metabolism despite an increased appetite. Long-Term Follow-up of Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine-131. This helps us offset the costs of running this site, so thank you for your support! Prominent in the regulations established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for radioactive materials users are guidelines that limit exposure to radiation workers, and members of the general public. I-131 is normally a health concern after the . However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. Of 135 patients with documented pubertal status . Design and methods: Five hundred and four patients over 40 years of age with diffuse toxic goiter were treated with MMI for 18 months. Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine. The radioactivity carries no significant risk for the cat, but precautionary protective measures are required for people who come into close contact with the cat. 6. Most cats respond to treatment within weeks, although some take up to 6 months to gain the full benefit. The injection has no direct side effects. While in radiology we use radiation shielding garments (lead aprons) to reduce gamma and x-ray exposure, the energy of the 131I gamma is four to five times higher and those garments are ineffective as a shield. 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. 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? Many times the only symptoms these other conditions cause are weight loss. Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity.
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. All rights reserved. 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). That was part of the problem we had before treatment. Lifelong treatment, usually involving twice-daily oral dosage, will be required, and for some owners and cats, this dosage schedule may be difficult to maintain. One to two weeks after surgery, another TT4 level is measured. If you know that your cat has hyperthyroidism, you probably have already seen your vet in order to have this disease properly treated. The advantage of surgery is that it is likely to produce a long-term or permanent cure in most cats, and therefore eliminates the need for long-term medication. American Academy of Pediatrics. 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. The routine stay in our radioactive iodine unit is currently 12 days. Miles K.G., Simpson S.A., Zimmerman R.B., et al. Part 20, Standards for protection against radiation 3. Dietary Therapy When it comes to survival, the studies that have been done show that cats cured of their thyroid disease by radioactive iodine live much longer (up to twice as long) when compared to hyperthyroid cats treated by methimazole. The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. Giving him medication once or twice a day isn't an option, although if it's a medication that can be mixed in with his food, it's something you could discuss with the veterinary staff at the facility. Radioiodine treatment avoids surgery, anesthesia, and anti-thyroid drugs. Occasionally, a cat suspected of having hyperthyroidism has a TT4 level within the upper range of normal. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. 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. The good news is that there are many treatment options available to our hyperthyroid cats. They will then need to take a thyroid supplement. Only about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10. Hyperthyroid cats are also at risk for complications related to the hypertension that frequently accompanies hyperthyroidism. The risks of ingesting radioactive iodine and the risks of being around a patient that has been treated with radioactive iodine are very different. 122(6): p. 2444-61. Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of continuous methimazole (MMI) therapy. Although the thyroid gland enlarges in hyperthyroidism, it is usually a benign or non-malignant change. If your cat requires daily medications for issues other than hyperthyroidism, he's not a candidate for radioactive iodine therapy. Because metabolism is altered in hyperthyroidism, it's important to monitor your cat's weight and muscle mass. The coat of affected cats may appear unkempt, matted, or greasy (see Figure 1). What is not taken up by the thyroid will be present in the cat's bodily fluids and will primarily be voided in the cat's urine (in those first four days at the vet hospital). This usually leads to permanent destruction of the thyroid, which will cure hyperthyroidism. The first step is determining the blood level of one of the thyroid hormones calledtotal thyroxine (TT4). The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. Hypocalcemia can be life-threatening and may require either short-term or long-term medication postoperatively should it occur. Subpart D-Radiation Dose Limits for Individual Members of the Public 2. And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Thyroidectomy (largely replaced by radioactive iodine . Usually this means that the cat will need to be hospitalized for between three and five days after treatment. For this reason, some cats with hyperthyroidism may require additional treatment to control secondary heart disease. What are the risks of my cat becoming hypothyroid? Blog written by Dr. Daisy Spears in conjunction with Dr. Linder. It requires two round-trips for you. It is acceptable to feed your feline products containing at least 30% protein and less than 15% carbohydrates. In the US, the average person is exposed to an additional 3.0 mSv/yr from medical sources (predominantly CT scans). Hypothyroidism, is a condition resulting from a deficiency of thyroid hormone. If radioactive iodine therapy won't work for you and your cat, alternatives are available. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. The goal of hyperthyroidism treatment is to lower the levels of thyroid hormones in the body. There are four treatment options for feline hyperthyroidism: medication, radioactive iodine therapy, surgery, and dietary therapy. Radioactive iodine (I-131) is a very safe and effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. Once his radiation levels come down and you can bring him home, you still have to keep him away from young children and pregnant women, as he'll pass small amounts of radioactive iodine through his urine for approximately two weeks. 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. Treatment for hypothyroidism in cats is . My pet has kidney disease what kind of diet should I feed. ), family history (genetics) or radiation exposure. 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. She has spoken at national and international conferences and a Capitol Hillbriefing, and is an expert in pet obesity, nutrition communication, and in the human-animal bond. Since hyperthyroid cats are usually over eight years of age, there is a degree of risk involved. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. These medications do not provide a cure for the disease, but they do allow either short-term or long-term control of hyperthyroidism. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. For some cats, a veterinary therapeutic diet low in iodine may be all thats required to control symptoms. Treatment However, it may not be the best treatment for your particular cat. Because of the important role the thyroid gland plays in the body, some cats with hyperthyroidism develop secondary problems, including heart disease and high blood pressure.
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