will my cat gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment

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. Jeff Brunette, CHP, Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. During that time, the ravenous appetite should subside, your cat will probably gain weight, and her blood pressure and heart rate should normalize. Surgical removal of the affected thyroid gland(s) may be very effective. Hyperthyroidism is too much thyroid hormone that causes weight loss so kitty should gain some weight back to a normal amount after treatment. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment method for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine. Try mixing baby food chicken or turkey in with some Fancy Feast. . 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 risks associated with low level ingestion of radioactive iodine relate to an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine. Many times the only symptoms these other conditions cause are weight loss. The overwhelming majority of cats (>95%) are cured by a single therapy with only a small percentage of cats requiring additional radioiodine therapy (4%) or becoming persistently hypothyroid (1%). Surgery will be performed if your cat successfully undergoes the initial treatment without complication. These include an iodine-restricted diet, medications, and radioactive iodine therapy. 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. When an injection of radioactive iodine is given, it destroys the abnormal thyroid tissue without endangering other organs. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. I-131 is normally a health concern after the . After administration of 131 Iodine, your cat is . Site Help | Recurrence of the disease is a possibility in some cats. Tiki Cat Hanalei Luau Wild Salmon Wet Cat Food. . Because the thyroid needs iodine to produce hormones, the thyroid takes the radioiodine into the thyroid cells and the radiation destroys the overactive thyroid cells over time. Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Robin Downing, DVM, CVPP, CCRP, DAAPM; Ernest Ward, DVM. 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. However once the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism has been made, and no other illnesses are identified, the motivation to perform further diagnostics, especially those that require the need for anesthetics or are invasive may be lost. Our cat was treated for hyperthyroidism and has been back home for about two weeks. If DNA is damaged, there are three possible outcomes: This is very important meaning that cats rarely develop an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) after radioiodine therapy. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment. Log in 24/7 to access your pets health care information. About 25% of cats with hyperthyroidism become hypertensive. This treatment is appropriate for cats with more surgical risk due to other health problems or who are exceptionally old. Symptoms include weight loss, muscle wasting, increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, unkempt appearance, and sometimes hyperactivity. To help your cat gain weight, you need to increase the protein and . Gradual weight gain and return to healthy body condition are expected. 197(2): p. 125-136. All three have risks and benefits. The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Since platelets are essential for blood clotting, thrombocytopenia may lead to problems with excessive bleeding. Will he come around at some point or have we created a monster who will run off to the food dish every time we get up from the chair. Facilities that use radioactive materials like I-131 must have radioactive materials licenses. Studies have shown that cats treated with I-131 live longer than those treated with pills, added Mosenco, citing a study where I-131-treated cats lived an average of four to five years following treatment, versus an average of only two years for cats on medication.Dec 19, 2016. But those instruments are quite expensive and are not readily available in stores. Gained over three pounds! When available, radioactive iodine therapy is the treatment of choice for cats with hyperthyroidism. The first step is determining the blood level of one of the thyroid hormones calledtotal thyroxine (TT4). Radioactive iodine therapy. About TheCatSite.com. Ultimately of course, these conditions can be diagnosed. The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. 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. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. A small number of cats will remain hyperthyroid after treatment, if this is the case your cat will need . The treatment you and your vet choose depends on several factors including how severe the disease is, your cats health, and what works best for your family. Risk of Ionizing Radiation Exposure to Children: A Subject Review. Medication and radioactive iodine therapy are just as effective at treating hyperthyroidism in cats as surgery and are less invasive, so surgical treatment is rarely chosen for treating this condition. Unfortunately these cats may continue to deteriorate and may even die from their other non-thyroid diseases. A Multicompartmental Model for Iodide, Thyroxine, and Triiodothyronine Metabolism in Normal and Spontaneously Hyperthyroid Cats. That was part of the problem we had before treatment. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. Many organs are affected by hyperthyroidism, especially the heart. Clients frequently have the following 2 questions when considering radioiodine therapy for their cat's hyperthyroidism. Until then, the radiation safety guidelines of Michigan and the NCR are followed. This treatment involves administering an injection of iodine with a radioactive substance attached. The cell dies (only occurs with very high doses). The chronic elevation of circulating thyroid hormone levels in cats with hyperthyroidism leads to changes in their heart muscle that predispose them to developing heart failure. He rejected the Fancy Feast stuff and gobbled the baby food along with eating a little variety of the many dry foods we tried in an effort to find one that he really liked. 8. Other therapeutic monitoring. It is given one to three times daily and must be continued for the remainder of the pet's life. 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. She gained and ate a lot and we were more than happy. Once the correct dose of radioiodine has been determined and administered, most of the time the tumors responsible for causing the elevated thyroid levels resolve and the cats are cured. 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. 2004. Risks from other illness. Older cats are at greater risk for developing hyperthyroidism. Usually this means that the cat will need to be hospitalized for between three and five days after treatment. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. When x-rays, or any ionizing radiation, pass through the body they cause electrons to be ejected from atoms, leaving behind positive ions. Because the radioactive iodine used (known as iodine 131) may expose those around you to the effects of radiation (and theoretically negatively affect their thyroid glands), you will be given guidelines on how to prevent such exposure. These include weight loss, increased activity, and kitten like behaviour. A large study found an increase in some cancer types in people who had radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism compared with the general population. While the treatment is fairly expensive, over the long term it could be cheaper than medication and is on a par with surgical treatment. Slater M.R., Geller S. and Rogers K., Long-Term Health and Predictors of Survival for Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine 131. You should talk with your veterinarian about what diets may be best for him in this case. Both cardiomyopathy and hypertension are potentially reversible with appropriate treatment of the disease. It has to do with how important your thyroid is in regulating your metabolism and your weight. What are other nutritional concerns for my hyperthyroid cat? Scaly skin. 1 Radioactive iodine (RAI)] is generally considered the optimal treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. In more serious cases, surgical removal of the thyroid glands may be required. The slow onset of signs means that cat owners will often miss these changes until the late stages of disease. Only about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10. 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. A special diet for cats with hyperthyroidism. The word "individuals" in this context means "people". In most cases, enlargement of thyroid glands is caused by a non-cancerous tumor called an adenoma. A swollen or tender neck and feeling flushed. Radioactive iodine therapy is a very effective way to treat hyperthyroidism (I-131). The treatment of choice for hyperthyroid cats is radioactive iodine therapy, which is a cure. Most cats respond to treatment within weeks, although some take up to 6 months to gain the full benefit. The cats heart rate and blood pressure may also be checked. The American Thyroid Association notes that weight gain develops over a long time and may have many causes other than the underactive thyroid. The food isnotmedicated. Risks unrelated to radioiodine therapy: Cats treated with radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroidism have several risks unrelated to the radioiodine therapy itself. Answer posted on 30 March 2019. 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. 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. What happens after my cat is released from the hospital? Long-Term Follow-up of Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine-131. If you suspect your cat might be experiencing some of these symptoms, the next step is visiting your veterinarian for a blood test to check your cats thyroid hormone levels. Annual blood and urine tests are important in all cats seven years and older to detect hyperthyroidism before potentially irreversible damage occurs. With your cat's diseased thyroid, after methimazole treatment failed, large doses of iodine might have proven effective. Treatment usually includes an adjustment to your cat's diet, medication, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery. At 1 and 3 months after the treatment, a blood test for thyroid and kidney function should be done by your veterinarian. Diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism is generally straightforward. Your veterinarian's instructions regarding separation for the two weeks are simply doing the same thing we do with people. Their hyperthyroidism won't come back, and they don't need ongoing medication. 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. 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. Signs of anxiety in a cat including pacing, yowling for no apparent reason, and restlessness are a common symptom of feline hyperthyroidism. . 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. This is why one of the first signs of thyroid disease may be a change in weight weight gain if the thyroid is underactive and weight loss if the thyroid is overactive. 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. It is actually the best approach to take to minimize exposures to you and your family while allowing the cat to have post-treatment recovery time at home and not in a veterinary hospital. Lifelong administration of methimazole can control the effects of an overactive thyroid gland. The advantages of radioactive iodine therapy are that the procedure most often cures hyperthyroidism, has no serious side effects, and does not require anesthesia. Get exceptional Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Feline Hyperthyroidism services from highly experienced & loving pet care professionals in Downers Grove, IL. Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of an animal. If this is the case with your cat, paying special attention to specific nutrients such as dietary phosphorus (a key player in chronic kidney disease) may be required. It might not be an option for a frail cat who shouldn't undergo anesthesia. Most cats with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism will live several years following treatment of hyperthyroidism, unless they develop another disease. Another significant risk for hyperthyroid cats is not actually related to their thyroid disease. Feeding Hyperthyroid Cats Iodine restriction may help; weight loss is a . 20.1301 Dose limits for individual members of the public. In many cats, only one thyroid lobe is abnormal, so only one surgery is needed. 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. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routines. Medication typically. Surgery. . Radioactive-iodine therapy is becoming increasingly popular when dealing with hyperthyroidism in cats. One way to treat a cat with hyperthyroidism is with an oral medication that contains methimazole. If both thyroid glands require removal, there is a risk of developing hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) after surgery. . TheCatSite.com is a community of cat lovers dedicated to quality cat care and cat welfare. There are several hypothesized causes of hyperthyroidism. If you can't bear to be away from him, or if he becomes very stressed or frightened when you're not around, that isolation could be difficult. Weigh the pros and cons of various treatments and discuss options with your vet. This helps us offset the costs of running this site, so thank you for your support! What happens after my cat is released from the hospital? Do not allow your cat to sleep against your body. If the nearest facility is far away, there's the stress or travel for both you and Fluffy, as well as possible hotel and other travel expenses. While my facility does not treat cats with radioactive 131I, I have consulted with a veterinary medicine program at a nearby university that does perform these types of procedures to get myself in the "cat-patient" mode of thought. The recommended food for cats with thyroid problems is high in protein yet low in carbohydrates, iodine (around 0.32 ppm) and phosphate. It is important to drink fluids after your treatment and for the next 2 days. Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. (a) Each licensee shall conduct operations so that -. If the disease involves both lobes of the thyroid gland, two surgeries may be required, depending on the surgeon's choice of procedures. Looking for a convenient way to access your pets health records, refill prescriptions, view upcoming appointments and more? Now that I know my cat has hyperthyroidism, what do I do? Cats receive a single dose of radioactive iodine by either subcutaneous injection or by a capsule given by mouth. Hence additional separation between the patient and children are unnecessary. What happens after radioactive iodine treatment for cats? "The most common clinical sign of hyperthyroidism is weight loss due to the increased rate of metabolism despite an increased appetite.". Radioactive iodine therapy is curative within three months of therapy in approximately 95 percent of all hyperthyroid cases. For this prescription diet to work, it must be the only food fed, which means no cheating with treats. Endocrinology, 1988. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is a common disease of older cats. In some cases, a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia) may also occur. After treatment, the normal thyroid tissue will regain full function within 1-3 months. It is also common for hyperthyroid cats to exhibit increased vocalizing, particularly at night. Of 247 patients receiving RAI for GD, 157 (79.6% female) had complete data and were included in the analysis. Long-Term Health and Predictors of Survival for Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Iodine 131. Natural background radiation exposure accounts for an average of 3.1 mSv/yr with variations depending on where you live. However, an overactive thyroid is quite common. There are virtually no side effects, and there is no pain associated with 131I treatment. The typical cat with hyperthyroidism is middle-aged or older; the average age of affected cats is approximately 12 years. To scientifically prove a connection would require nearly one million patients followed closely over decades to detect the small increased risk with any confidence. Standards for Protection against Radiation. Thank you! J Vet Intern Med, 2001. If these tests are not diagnostic, athyroid scan (thyroid scintigraphy)can be performed at a veterinary referral center, or the TT4 can be measured again in a few weeks. Keeping your pets food temperature just right. Hyperthyroidismis characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and a subsequent increase in metabolic rate. Hair loss. Purraise. With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine (radioiodine) by mouth. You can't visit Fluffy during his stay at the veterinary facility. Rarely, a permanent reduction in thyroid-hormone levels called hypothyroidism occurs after radioactive iodine treatment. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. This disease is common in older cats. And I'm so glad she did, since her kidney disease (that unmasked after methimazole treatment) went from Stage 1 chronic to Stage 4 acute on chronic last weekend. Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats, and mostly afflicts cats middle-aged and older. There are several treatment options, and your veterinarian will determine the best choice for your cat. 4. How does airline travel expose me to radiation? However, it may not be the best treatment for your particular cat. Why isn't there a study directly linking medical imaging and cancer? As stated above, it may also be used for a few weeks to stabilize a cat at increased surgical risk because of cardiac complications. 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. This may be particularly useful in cats with medical conditions that make other treatment options impossible. You should use the following methods for disposing of your cat's waste that may contain trace amounts of radiation. This is due to increased stimulation in the nervous system which is a common occurrence in cats with feline hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism, is a condition resulting from a deficiency of thyroid hormone. Learn more about radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism, Learn about radioiodine therapy for thyroid carcinoma, Learn more aboutSamariumtherapy for primary or metastatic bone tumors. He's radioactive, so it's not safe even for humans wearing protective clothing to spend too much time around him. This lowers the amount of radiation exposure to your bladder. 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. Occasionally cats will act like they may have a sore throat for a couple of days after the radioiodine therapy. Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues Questions Concerning Domestic Animals. If thyroid disease is a possibility, your veterinarian will likely order a blood chemistry panel and an analysis of thyroid hormone levels. You may also be advised to suck on sour candy after treatment to help the radioactive iodine come out in your saliva. The normal thyroid cells will therefore not take up any radioactive iodine. 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. The goal of hyperthyroidism treatment is to lower the levels of thyroid hormones in the body. 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. Other than unexplained weight loss, your cat may also become more restless, hyperactive, vocal, and extremely hungry! After initial stabilisation with oral medications, a number of curative treatments are also available. For the same reasons as surgical treatment, your cat will likely be started on methimazole for about a month before radioactive iodine therapy. Actually it is quite safe, because the radioactive iodine is absorbed only by thyroid cells; no other cells in the body are exposed to the radiation. 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. The risk to these cats is the simple fact that many cats in the age range when cats develop hyperthyroidism (8+ years) also develop other diseases. 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. 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. 15(1): p. 47-51. The majority of cancers occur later in life and the average lifetime risk of dying from cancer is 25%. Ten patients (6.4%) had DS (Down Syndrome) and 33 (21.0%) had received ATDs before RAI ablation. 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. Despite the extensive blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and physical exams that we require before . Many owners of cats with hyperthyroidism are hesitant to have radiation therapy or surgery because of their cat's advanced age. Surgery or radioactive iodine therapy to regulate overactive hormone production can sometimes leave cats with the opposite problem: their levels of thyroid hormone are now too low. Number of cases per 100,000 persons exposed to a single dose of 0.1 Gy. The anti-thyroid pill is methimazole, also known as Tapazole. 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. It is important to remember that old age is not a disease. and Turrel J.M., A Multicompartmental Model for Iodide, Thyroxine, and Triiodothyronine Metabolism in Normal and Spontaneously Hyperthyroid Cats. The inaccurate repair of DNA is rare, but can cause a cell to act wildly or grow into a cancer. It will take about a month for thyroid levels to return to normal in most cats. Thyroid hormones affect nearly all of the organs in the body; therefore, thyroid disease often causes secondary problems. Several complications of hyperthyroidism can be significant, includinghypertension(high blood pressure) and a heart disease called thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. 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. As the thyroid levels return to normal, some cats may be able to adjust to their new diets quickly after treatment. Is radioactive iodine treatment safe? They do not take into consideration individual risk factors including lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise, etc. This cat is showing weight loss and poor coat - typical signs of hyperthyroidism. If your cat does not have elevated T4 levels but your veterinarian still suspects your cat has hyperthyroidism, additional tests may be recommended. We found out about the radioactive iodine treatment and after lots.of research decided this was the way to go. Radioactive iodine is a treatment for an overactive thyroid gland. I'm sure if he is still underweight, his body will be telling him to eat, eat, eat. If hypertension is diagnosed along with hyperthyroidism, drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure and reduce the risk of damaging other organs. Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. Even after treatment it may take a long time to reverse weight loss and muscle loss that occurred before your cats diagnosis. Cats may also continue to show signs of hyperthyroidism, including vomiting and diarrhea, for 3-4 weeks after the radioiodine therapy as the disease continues to resolve.

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