Surgery will be performed if your cat successfully undergoes the initial treatment without complication. These tests are needed to evaluate your cats overall health and predict the likelihood of complications with the chosen treatment protocol. Each treatment option has its advantages and disadvantages. 1 INTRODUCTION. Our cat was treated for hyperthyroidism and has been back home for about two weeks. Laura Porter / Verywell Cat Articles | Although it has a slightly higher iodine content than the previous option, Tiki Cat Hanalei Luau Wild Salmon is the best value for money. Diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism is generally straightforward. Before deciding the form of treatment, several tests are performed, including additional blood tests, a urinalysis, chest radiographs (X-rays), an ECG, and blood pressure measurements. Nearly all cats will be cured by a second treatment. There are fundamental differences between a continuous dose over a year (background radiation) and a dose that occurs over a few seconds like in CT, but these are helpful comparisons. Other than unexplained weight loss, your cat may also become more restless, hyperactive, vocal, and extremely hungry! Radioactive iodine therapy. The dose of radiation used during radioactive iodine treatment is very low, but there are some precautions you'll need to take after treatment: avoid prolonged close contact with children and pregnant women for a few days or weeks women should avoid getting pregnant for at least 6 months men should not father a child for at least 4 months If your cat does not have elevated T4 levels but your veterinarian still suspects your cat has hyperthyroidism, additional tests may be recommended. 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. In some cats, anorexia develops as the disease progresses. However, it may not be appropriate for all cats (depending on other medical conditions) so important to work with your veterinarian and decide if using this therapeutic diet is the best way to manage your cats condition. Overall, weight gain was associated with development of hypothyroidism despite levothyroxine replacement . In an effort to put some weight back on him we are still feeding him turkey and gravy baby food in the morning to supplement the dry food. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is another potential complication of hyperthyroidism, and can cause additional damage to several organs, including the eyes, kidneys, heart, and brain. I-131 is normally a health concern after the . Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . To help your cat gain weight, you need to increase the protein and . The veterinarian's recommendations are to isolate my cat for at least two weeks. If your cat requires daily medications for issues other than hyperthyroidism, he's not a candidate for radioactive iodine therapy. The majority of cats treated with radioactive iodine have normal hormone levels within one to two weeks of treatment. Slater M.R., Komkov A., Robinson L.E., et al., Long-Term Follow-up of Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine-131. The thyroid takes up the radioactive iodine, which destroys cells in the thyroid. Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of continuous methimazole (MMI) therapy. The dose of radioactive iodine is taken orally. She's lost a pound in less than two weeks, so yeah, I'm glad I let her eat as much as she wanted. Part 20, Standards for protection against radiation But there are clear reasons for the precautions that the veterinarian has given you and I also recommend that you follow them. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. Some cats may experience side effects from medication, however, including vomiting, anorexia, fever, anemia, and lethargy. This means that in order for this diet to work, your cat must eat the therapeutic diet exclusively and cannot eat any treats or supplements that might contain iodine and allow the thyroid gland to continue to make thyroxine. People may take RAI . 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. Thyroidectomy (largely replaced by radioactive iodine . Risks from hyperthyroidism. One way to treat a cat with hyperthyroidism is with an oral medication that contains methimazole. TheCatSite.com is a community of cat lovers dedicated to quality cat care and cat welfare. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. These include surgical removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) or treatment with radioactive iodine. Hays M.T., Broome M.R. Hence for a transient period following radioiodine therapy, the patient's urine contains excreted radioiodine which will emit beta particles as it continues to decay. Why is the average risk of developing cancer so high? A special diet for cats with hyperthyroidism. 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. Prior to the onset of symptoms he was eating a high quality dry cat food but when he started losing weight and begging for food we were told we could give him some baby food and wet cat food. All rights reserved. Design and methods: Five hundred and four patients over 40 years of age with diffuse toxic goiter were treated with MMI for 18 months. About 25% of cats with hyperthyroidism become hypertensive. If hypertension is diagnosed along with hyperthyroidism, drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure and reduce the risk of damaging other organs. Now the question is what risk does one obtain from receiving an exposure of 1 mSv? Cats exclusively fed the prescription diet will remain normal, but if the diet is discontinued, they will once again become hyperthyroid. This treatment involves administering an injection of iodine with a radioactive substance attached. Dr. Freeman has received research or residency funding from, given sponsored lectures for, or provided professional services for Aratana Therapeutics, Elanco, Guiding Stars Licencing Co LLC, Hills Pet Nutrition, Nestl Purina PetCare, P&G Petcare (now Mars), and Royal Canin. I might even suggest using disposable gloves when handling the litter box duties and when caring for the cat during the isolation time. Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. 122(6): p. 2444-61. Symptoms include weight loss, muscle wasting, increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, unkempt appearance, and sometimes hyperactivity. How to choose the right food for your cat. These include an iodine-restricted diet, medications, and radioactive iodine therapy. When choosing the best therapy for an individual cat, many factors must be considered. They do not take into consideration individual risk factors including lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise, etc. 197(2): p. 125-136. However, since wild-caught flaked Alaskan salmon is the first ingredient, it provides a lot of moisture. Annual blood and urine tests are important in all cats seven years and older to detect hyperthyroidism before potentially irreversible damage occurs. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Ultimately of course, these conditions can be diagnosed. Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies. Usually this means that the cat will need to be hospitalized for between three and five days after treatment. 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). The goal of hyperthyroidism treatment is to lower the levels of thyroid hormones in the body. Signs of anxiety in a cat including pacing, yowling for no apparent reason, and restlessness are a common symptom of feline hyperthyroidism. If radioactive iodine therapy won't work for you and your cat, alternatives are available. Excessive weight gain. You'll have to give him this drug twice daily for the rest of his life, which treats but doesn't cure the condition. The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. Long-Term Health and Predictors of Survival for Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine 131. 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. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. While I do not know the amount of radioactive 131I that was administered to your cat, the recommendations that your veterinarian has given you are very standard for the industry. The estimates of risk currently used are extrapolated from patients that have received much higher doses (e.g., atomic bomb survivors) using the linear, no-threshold model of radiation exposure risk. Learn more about radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism, Learn about radioiodine therapy for thyroid carcinoma, Learn more aboutSamariumtherapy for primary or metastatic bone tumors. It might not be an option for a frail cat who shouldn't undergo anesthesia. 2. If thyroid disease is a possibility, your veterinarian will likely order a blood chemistry panel and an analysis of thyroid hormone levels. 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. (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.) Most hyperthyroid cats respond fully to a single injection with radio-iodine. One of the reasons the cat was held for four days was to allow for much of the radioactive 131I to be excreted in urine so that the amount of external radiation exposure is significantly reduced. Should we just cut him off "cold turkey" (pun intended) and hope he finds fulfillment and eventual weight gain with his old diet of dry food? In cats > 95% of the radioiodine is excreted in the urine. Prescription nutrition. At 1 and 3 months after the treatment, a blood test for thyroid and kidney function should be done by your veterinarian. It is acceptable to feed your feline products containing at least 30% protein and less than 15% carbohydrates. Recurrence of hyperthyroidism is rare after I-131 therapy. If left untreated and unmanaged, these changes may eventually compromise the normal function of the heart and can even lead to heart failure. However, caution should be taken in disposal of products that may contain trace amounts of this radioactive substance. In most cases, enlargement of thyroid glands is caused by a non-cancerous tumor called an adenoma. Unfortunately these cats may continue to deteriorate and may even die from their other non-thyroid diseases. Risk of Ionizing Radiation Exposure to Children: A Subject Review. What Are The Side Effects Of Radioactive Iodine Treatment In Cats? 1. (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". These statistics are averages and do not predict what is going to happen to you. Surgery. The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Fluffy might be a candidate for a thyroidectomy, surgery to remove the thyroid glands, which usually results in a cure. However, an overactive thyroid is quite common. (For example, for human patients we provide instructions such as "sleep in separate beds" and "stay at least 1 meter away from others as much as possible.") Diagnosis Radioactive iodine. . 101(4 Pt 1): p. 717-9. Another significant risk for hyperthyroid cats is not actually related to their thyroid disease. Cats with hyperthyroidism exhibit symptoms that are similar to those of humans with the disease: weight loss, increased appetite, excessive . 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. 2000-2023 TheCatSite.com. Gained over three pounds! Medications for hyperthyroidism in cats are prescribed on a case by case basis. The cell dies (only occurs with very high doses). 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. Treatment for Hypothyroidism in Cats. 1. If you know that your cat has hyperthyroidism, you probably have already seen your vet in order to have this disease properly treated. Treating Hyperthyroidism in Cats. Hyperthyroidismis characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and a subsequent increase in metabolic rate. Occasionally, a cat suspected of having hyperthyroidism has a TT4 level within the upper range of normal. By You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. 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. Many times the only symptoms these other conditions cause are weight loss. 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. By 14 days after treatment, the radioactivity will have decayed to a very low level. The other conditions that cats can develop at this age are numerous and varied. Since platelets are essential for blood clotting, thrombocytopenia may lead to problems with excessive bleeding. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine. Iodine is an element normally taken up in large amounts by the thyroid gland, even more so in cats that are hyperthyroid. 1 Radioactive iodine (RAI)] is generally considered the optimal treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. Surgical patients may become hyperthyroid again if abnormal cells are missed during surgery or if new abnormal cells develop. 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. It will take about a month for thyroid levels to return to normal in most cats. This is due to increased stimulation in the nervous system which is a common occurrence in cats with feline hyperthyroidism. Side effects may include fluid retention, weight gain, elevated . 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. This may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2004. These complications include cerebrovascular events (i.e., strokes) and the premature exacerbation of pre-existing kidney disease. If surgery is the chosen treatment method, the anti-thyroid medication methimazole (Tapazole, Felimazole) may be prescribed for several weeks before the operation. 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). However, your cat will still have a low amount of radiation in his or her body. Determination of Release Criteria for I-131 Therapy Cats in Conference Proceedings American College of Veterinary Radiology. 20.1301 Dose limits for individual members of the public. However, there are a number of reasons for the precautions that your veterinarian has provided you that I will discuss below. To scientifically prove a connection would require nearly one million patients followed closely over decades to detect the small increased risk with any confidence. Thyroid hormones affect nearly all of the organs in the body; therefore, thyroid disease often causes secondary problems. They will then need to take a thyroid supplement. Many owners of cats with hyperthyroidism are hesitant to have radiation therapy or surgery because of their cat's advanced age. Log in 24/7 to access your pets health care information. Why? Methimazole blocks excess thyroid hormone production rather than destroying the abnormal thyroid tissue, so the medication must be given for the rest of the cat's life. There are currently no known preventive measures for hyperthyroidism, but early diagnosis decreases the secondary problems and improves the prognosis. The cell repairs itself with mistakes (rare). More specific information on what to expect when your cat is treated with radioactive-iodine therapy at Cornell can be found here. As the thyroid levels return to normal, some cats may be able to adjust to their new diets quickly after treatment. If we use the linear no-threshold model we could estimate that the exposure to 1 mSv would therefore have a risk of less than 0.01% (or 1/100th of 1 %) of causing cancer over the remaining life of an adult.
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