Feeding Hyperthyroid Cats Iodine restriction may help; weight loss is a . Of course, some people receive no radiation and others much, much more. These tests are needed to evaluate your cats overall health and predict the likelihood of complications with the chosen treatment protocol. You must log in or register to reply here. Did You Know? It requires two round-trips for you. This test can also help the doctor determine the cause of your hyperthyroidism and get other information about your thyroid tissue. The slow onset of signs means that cat owners will often miss these changes until the late stages of disease. In the hospital (or veterinary hospitals) we would use a Geiger counter with a thin-window probe to find the radioactive contamination. 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. Let's tackle the external exposure first as it is the simplest concept. To date the studies following hyperthyroid cats treated with radioiodine have not shown any increased incidence of cancer (thyroid or other types) associated with radioiodine therapy. After administration of 131 Iodine, your cat is . The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. Upon discharge from PVESC (after an average of 4 to 7 days after treatment), treated cats will still be excreting radioiodine in their urine, saliva, and feces. . What are the risks of my cat becoming hypothyroid? Your cat will not experience nausea, hair loss, lethargy, or decreased appetite as a result of the procedure. For some cats, a veterinary therapeutic diet low in iodine may be all thats required to control symptoms. Some cats may experience side effects from medication, however, including vomiting, anorexia, fever, anemia, and lethargy. Treating Hyperthyroidism in Cats. Affected cats are often restless and may become cranky or aggressive. Aim: Analysis and follow up of body weight after radioiodine therapy (RITh) of hyperthyroidism, since excessive weight gain is a common complaint among these patients. The radioiodine is eliminated in urine and feces. Unfortunately these cats may continue to deteriorate and may even die from their other non-thyroid diseases. 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. This problem resolved rapidly after treatment. 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. 4. Category: Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a. The risks of ingesting radioactive iodine and the risks of being around a patient that has been treated with radioactive iodine are very different. It has to do with how important your thyroid is in regulating your metabolism and your weight. 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). A blood chemistry panel and urinalysis will provide information about other organs and provide your veterinarian with an overall picture of your cats health. The good news is that there are many treatment options available to our hyperthyroid cats. With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine (radioiodine) by mouth. In almost all cases, your thyroid hormone levels will return to normal or below normal after radioactive iodine treatment. Therefore if you adhere to the release instructions we provide you with (copies provided on admission and again at discharge), you should be assured of getting less than 1 mSv exposure from interacting with your cat. We love them, too! Pediatrics, 1998. Of 247 patients receiving RAI for GD, 157 (79.6% female) had complete data and were included in the analysis. Now that I know my cat has hyperthyroidism, what do I do? 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. 8. During treatment, radioactive iodine is administered as an injection and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. 122(6): p. 2444-61. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. This means that our radioactive materials license requires our practice ensure that our clients receive less than 1 mSv of radiation exposure as the result of our treatment of their hyperthyroid cat with radioiodine. Purraise. Thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy may develop because the heart enlarges and thickens to meet the increased metabolic demands. I'll be honest, the last thing I (or my vet) worried about with Sara was gaining weight. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. 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. The iodine is taken into the thyroid gland and incorporated into thyroxine. Some hyperthyroid cats have thyroid cells in abnormal locations calledectopicthyroid tissue (thyroid tissue under the tongue, further down the neck, or all the way to the base of the heart), and they may remain hyperthyroid after surgery. However, unless the retinal detachment is treated immediately, permanent blindness can occur. In most cases, only enough radioiodine is given to destroy that part of the gland that is functioning . First we need to put this exposure level into some context: How do x-rays increase your risk for cancer? Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. Jeff Brunette, CHP, Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. In a study of 524 hyperthyroid cats treated with I-131, only 11/524 (2.1%) developed Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day. The anti-thyroid pill is methimazole, also known as Tapazole. These statistics are averages and do not predict what is going to happen to you. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine. The dose of radioactive iodine is taken orally. 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). Risk of Ionizing Radiation Exposure to Children: A Subject Review. If the disease involves both lobes of the thyroid gland, two surgeries may be required, depending on the surgeon's choice of procedures. The radioiodine is eliminated in urine and feces. This is due to increased stimulation in the nervous system which is a common occurrence in cats with feline hyperthyroidism. Your doctor will order a test called a radioactive iodine uptake and scan to determine the dose you will need. Until then, the radiation safety guidelines of Michigan and the NCR are followed. The majority of cats treated with radioactive iodine have normal hormone levels within one to two weeks of treatment. 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. Only certain facilities perform this procedure, which consists of giving your cat a shot of radioactive iodine, which gets rid of abnormal thyroid cells without harming normal ones. This is very important meaning that cats rarely develop an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) after radioiodine therapy. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. For this prescription diet to work, it must be the only food fed, which means no cheating with treats. Dr. Linder has received speaker fees or research fudning from Hills Pet Nutrition, Nestl Purina PetCare, Royal Canin, and Virbac, and has provided professional services for Mark Morris Institute. Since hyperthyroidism can predispose a cat to other conditions, it is important to evaluate general health, with particular focus on the heart and kidneys. The American Thyroid Association notes that weight gain develops over a long time and may have many causes other than the underactive thyroid. 7. The other conditions that cats can develop at this age are numerous and varied. Miles K.G., Simpson S.A., Zimmerman R.B., et al. Chance of significant, unhealthy weight gain is increased. 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. It is used less commonly in younger children. Discuss these issues with your veterinarian when considering dietary iodine restriction as a treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. What Treats Can I Give my Dog with CalciumOxalateStones? The radioactive iodine damages these cells and causes your thyroid to shrink and thyroid hormone levels to go down over a few weeks. 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 radioiodine (I-131) used to treat thyroid disease in people and animals emits both gamma rays and beta particles. Cats afflicted with hyperthyroidism usually develop a variety of signs that may be subtle at first but that become more severe as the disease progresses. There are currently no known preventive measures for hyperthyroidism, but early diagnosis decreases the secondary problems and improves the prognosis. Additionally, diet may play a significant role in managing the disease, whether as a sole treatment or as an adjunct tool to address changes in your cats body related to hyperthyroidism. An anti-thyroid medication, like methimazole. In some cases, complications involving other organs may worsen this prognosis. Diagnosis 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? Because of these rare but serious side effect risks, your cat will need to be closely monitored by having simple blood tests performed every three to six months when using this medication. Endocrinology, 1988. Hyperthyroidismis characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and a subsequent increase in metabolic rate. Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of continuous methimazole (MMI) therapy. Having said that, the clients who own the cats we treat with radioiodine should make every effort to avoid ingesting any contents from the litter box. In some cats, anorexia develops as the disease progresses. Answer posted on 30 March 2019. 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? There are two types of radiation exposure that your vet is trying to minimizeexternal exposure from the radioactive material within the cat's body, and the radioactive materials in the cat's urine and other bodily fluids released by the cat that you may come into contact with and may end up being ingested or absorbed by you accidentally. Methimazole is also given before surgery to determine if the cat has a secondary medical condition, such as kidney or liver disease masked by hyperthyroidism. Gained over three pounds! The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. Why? Special attention should be given to the thyroid glands to look for evidence of enlargement and the clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. For the same reasons as surgical treatment, your cat will likely be started on methimazole for about a month before radioactive iodine therapy. What Are The Side Effects Of Radioactive Iodine Treatment In Cats? At 1 and 3 months after the treatment, a blood test for thyroid and kidney function should be done by your veterinarian. Since fewer than 2% of cats with hyperthyroidism have cancerous growths of the thyroid gland, treatment is usually very successful. 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. One major risk associated with surgical thyroidectomy is inadvertent damage to the parathyroid glands, which lie close to or within the thyroid gland and are crucial in maintaining stable blood calcium levels. If DNA is damaged, there are three possible outcomes: Often, treating hyperthyroidism will unmask hidden kidney failure that will require additional care and is best detected early in the course of the disease. . Why isn't there a study directly linking medical imaging and cancer? This usually leads to permanent destruction of the thyroid, which will cure hyperthyroidism. Although the thyroid gland enlarges in hyperthyroidism, it is usually a benign or non-malignant change. Surgical removal of the affected thyroid gland(s) may be very effective. How does airline travel expose me to radiation? 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. Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. The current Nuclear Regulatory Commission radiation dose limits for individual members of the public are listed below. As the thyroid levels return to normal, some cats may be able to adjust to their new diets quickly after treatment. These medications do not provide a cure for the disease, but they do allow either short-term or long-term control of hyperthyroidism. Mean baseline age was 12.7 3.0 years and mean baseline BMI SDS was 0.003 1.18 kg/m 2. It is given one to three times daily and must be continued for the remainder of the pet's life. Although it has a slightly higher iodine content than the previous option, Tiki Cat Hanalei Luau Wild Salmon is the best value for money. Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Robin Downing, DVM, CVPP, CCRP, DAAPM; Ernest Ward, DVM. When clicking a link here and buying, we may be able to make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. 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. As with surgery, you may need to take thyroid hormone . A swollen or tender neck and feeling flushed. It is acceptable to feed your feline products containing at least 30% protein and less than 15% carbohydrates. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2004. Secondary Problems radioactive iodine All three treatments will reduce thyroid hormone levels and the signs of hyperthyroidism. Hence people who's hyperthyroid cats are treated with radioiodine would be expected to have a potentially increased risk of developing cancer over the remainder of their lifetime as the result of that exposure of no more than 1/100th of 1 percent. Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Nearly all cats will be cured by a second treatment. Also, I wonder if there is home-testing equipment to track the household dispersal of the radioactive contaminants that he emits after his treatment and something else to monitor and determine my exposure to the 131I remnants. Removal of the thyroid glands, called surgical thyroidectomy, is a relatively straightforward surgical procedure that has a good success rate. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routines. If surgery is the chosen treatment method, the anti-thyroid medication methimazole (Tapazole, Felimazole) may be prescribed for several weeks before the operation. This I131 injection accumulates in the abnormal thyroid tissue, and the radioactivity kills the abnormal tissue without harming other vital structures nearby. The most common clinical sign of hyperthyroidism is weight loss due to the increased rate of metabolism despite an increased appetite. Both cardiomyopathy and hypertension are potentially reversible with appropriate treatment of the disease. Calabrese E.J., Hormesis: From Marginalization to Mainstream: A Case for Hormesis as the Default Dose-Response Model in Risk Assessment. In most cases, enlargement of thyroid glands is caused by a non-cancerous tumor called an adenoma. As youre on this website right now, we can assume that you love pets and likely have a special dog or cat (or many) in your life. Although the cause of feline hyperthyroidism is not known, possible contributing factors include deficiencies or excesses of certain compounds in the diet and chronic exposure to thyroid-disrupting chemicals in food or the environment.
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