will my cat gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment
It will take about a month for thyroid levels to return to normal in most cats. Weight change was analyzed in only 228 patients and 84% gained weight by 1 year after radioactive iodine therapy. Because each cat is different, your veterinarian will advise you on the best treatment for your cat. No ill effects have been noted in the children born to parents who received radioactive iodine in the past. Antithyroid medications are also available in a gel that can be applied to the skin. The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. We found out about the radioactive iodine treatment and after lots.of research decided this was the way to go. Standards for Protection against Radiation. Some cats may experience side effects from medication, however, including vomiting, anorexia, fever, anemia, and lethargy. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. of the radioactive iodine into your body because, just like the cat, any 131I intake you have will result in an uptake by your thyroid and in larger quantities could result in significant thyroid dose. You should use the following methods for disposing of your cat's waste that may contain trace amounts of radiation. What are the risks of my cat becoming hypothyroid? Number of cases per 100,000 persons exposed to a single dose of 0.1 Gy. This information is not a substitute for a vets opinion. Due to the damaging effects of hyperthyroid-induced hypertension on your cats kidneys, blood kidney values must be reassessed once the thyroxine level has normalized, even if they were normal on initial blood tests. The injection has no direct side effects. Dry, dull coat. A large study found an increase in some cancer types in people who had radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism compared with the general population. It is best to perform a nuclear scan before surgery to rule out ectopic thyroid tissue. 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. Hypocalcemia can be life-threatening and may require either short-term or long-term medication postoperatively should it occur. Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. The thyroid takes up the radioactive iodine, which destroys cells in the thyroid. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine. Thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy may develop because the heart enlarges and thickens to meet the increased metabolic demands. This can best be done by monitoring your cat's body condition, muscle condition, and weight. Employees of facilities that utilize radioactive materials may be categorized as "radiation workers" depending on their role. Most hyperthyroid cats respond fully to a single injection with radio-iodine. . TheCatSite.com participates in select affiliate advertising programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If your cat requires daily medications for issues other than hyperthyroidism, he's not a candidate for radioactive iodine therapy. Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations I have a cat also and I know when she is happy and purring while sitting on my lap getting strokes, she drools. 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. If the total GFR is below this number, medical therapy for hyperthyroidism may be recommended, although I-131 treatment may still be an option in specific patients. A prescription diet is available that lowers thyroid hormone, but for it to work your cat can't ever eat any other food. 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. We fed him some Fancy Feast again last night and he ate it all without vomiting. It does, however, involve the handling and injection of a radioactive substance that is only permitted at facilities specially licensed to use radioisotopes. Remember that theNRC regulationsrequire that release criteria and discharge instructions provided to owners of hyperthyroid cats prevent exposures of more than 1 mSv. Proper Waste Disposal Procedure Following Your Cat's RIT Therapy 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. Many doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant for 6 months to a year after treatment. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). This may be particularly useful in cats with medical conditions that make other treatment options impossible. This treatment is appropriate for cats with more surgical risk due to other health problems or who are exceptionally old. I am certain that your veterinarian probably told you to take care when handling the litter and to wash your hands thoroughly after handling litter, the cat, and items that the cat came into contact with. Let's tackle the external exposure first as it is the simplest concept. The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. 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. 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. Although the thyroid gland enlarges in hyperthyroidism, it is usually a benign or non-malignant change. 2000-2023 TheCatSite.com. Protecting myself after my cat's radioiodine treatment Now that he's back home, he still exhibits the behavior of wanting food all the time but I wonder if it's a habit he picked up before treatment or perhaps the symptoms won't completely gone away until the treatment has time to take hold. When x-rays, or any ionizing radiation, pass through the body they cause electrons to be ejected from atoms, leaving behind positive ions. However, an overactive thyroid is quite common. Radioactive iodine (I-131) is a very safe and effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. Clinical Signs Within one year after discontinuation of MMI, hyperthyroidism recurred in 104 patients. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. The dose of radioactive iodine is taken orally. 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 . Secondary Problems The anti-thyroid pill is methimazole, also known as Tapazole. Hyperthyroidism in CatsThere's an FDA-Approved Drug to Treat It J Vet Intern Med, 2001. Most cats respond to treatment within weeks, although some take up to 6 months to gain the full benefit. Since you'll have to leave your cat at the facility for several days or more, it's not a question of dropping him off at a distant veterinary hospital and then picking him up the next day. Did she have stage 1 prior to treatment for hyperthyroidism or did the stage 1 unmask after treatment started and then jump to stage 4? The study followed people for 26 years after two or more treatments. Some people also feel flushed. Gained over three pounds! Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. The majority of cats treated with radioactive iodine have normal hormone levels within one to two weeks of treatment. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Since hyperthyroid cats are usually over eight years of age, there is a degree of risk involved. Hyperthyroidism in Cats - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine This cat is showing weight loss and poor coat - typical signs of hyperthyroidism. Many times the only symptoms these other conditions cause are weight loss. Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. 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. As in the case of heart disease, after the hyperthyroidism has been successfully treated, high blood pressure will often resolve, and permanent treatment for it may not be required. 1. During that time, the ravenous appetite should subside, your cat will probably gain weight, and her blood pressure and heart rate should normalize. Top Reasons Not To Have RAI - Stop The Thyroid Madness One to two weeks after surgery, another TT4 level is measured. However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. Cats havetwo thyroid glands in the neck that are vital in regulating the body's metabolic rate. DNA can also be damaged directly by radiation. The inaccurate repair of DNA is rare, but can cause a cell to act wildly or grow into a cancer. What Are The Side Effects Of Radioactive Iodine Treatment In Cats? Several complications of hyperthyroidism can be significant, includinghypertension(high blood pressure) and a heart disease called thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. Many organs are affected by hyperthyroidism, especially the heart. Gradual weight gain and return to healthy body condition are expected. Hyperthyroidism is a common condition in older cats. Natural background radiation exposure accounts for an average of 3.1 mSv/yr with variations depending on where you live. This helps us offset the costs of running this site, so thank you for your support! Radioactive iodine therapy is curative within three months of therapy in approximately 95 percent of all hyperthyroid cases. Only the bare necessitiesfood and water and quick litter cleanupsare provided by veterinary technicians during your cat's hospital stay. Anti-thyroid drugs act by reducing the production and release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. 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. For this long-term treatment, the cat is injected with the radioactive iodine, which destroys the tissue of the overactive thyroid gland. Until then, the radiation safety guidelines of Michigan and the NCR are followed. The treatment a cat receives for hyperthyroidism will depend on specific circumstances, including the patients overall health status, the owners ability and willingness to medicate the cat regularly, and financial considerations.