Radioiodine therapy - your experiences

**Lizzie** · 03-22-2006, 06:49 PM

I found out today that Newcat (must,must think of a proper name for her), the senior Siamese I adopted last year from Purrfect Pals, has hyperthyroidism. The good news is that her kidneys are functioning well and her heart, though beating a little too quickly at present, is still strong. She is therefore a perfect patient for radioiodine therapy, what my vet calls "the gold standard" treatment for her disorder.

In a forum as large as this, with so many very experienced cat caretakers, I'm sure some of you have had to treat your cats for hyperthyroidism. Please advise. The only information I have on radioactive treatment comes from the web site of the center where the treatment would be done, so not unbiased.

When I've finally de-bugged my computer at home, I'll post pictures of her - if she will keep still long enough.

**K & L** · 03-22-2006, 06:51 PM

I've never had experience with this, but I think it's worth a try!

**catmandu** · 03-22-2006, 07:10 PM

I have never had to do taht with any of The Found Cats.
We wish you all the Best with Your Siamese,and we pray that All will turn out right.

**kb2yjx** · 03-22-2006, 07:28 PM

Our Miss BooBoo Kitty(at age 14 yrs) had the radioactive iodine done in June, 2001. She tolerated the procedure(and being away from home for a week)very well. In Sept. 2001, bloodwork was done and Boo was doing very nicley. Then in November, 2001, I noticed that Boo was not right.She refused to eat, was craving warmth, and sleeping too much. I took her to the vet.A "free" T4 was done. Boo had less than 0.4 of the thyroid circulating in her body, in other words, she had become HYPOthyroid. For the rest of her life, Boo got Soloxine 1/2 tab once a day. Boo lived for 3+yrs more, she died at the age of 16 1/2 yrs from the kidney disease. However, kidney disease sometimes comes out after the dx of hyperthyroidism, which happened to Boo. Our vet has had other cats that have had absolutey NO problems with the radioactive iodine, and I hope your kitty is lucky like those cats!!!! Sandra

**Laura's Babies** · 03-22-2006, 08:45 PM

Just wishing you luck with whatever you decide to do.

**boscibo** · 03-22-2006, 10:42 PM

My cat Bo had radioiodine done at 14 years of age in August of 2004. We tried the pills (tapezole) first, but he started losing fur on his face, and developed large pimples on his nose. Both of these happened after starting tapezole and stopped after I took him off tapezole, so they were related. Surgery was out for us after considering Bo's age and the fact that it could come back on the other side. So we decided to do radioiodine.

It is expensive, but figuring on $30 a month for tapezole over the life of the cat, the cost was justified. The vet who did Bo's procedure did an oral capsule instead of an injection. He required a quarantine for 12 days and that was by far the hardest part. This vet likes to release the cats without the handling and litter restrictions that a shorter stay would require, so that is why it was so long. Other places might have a shorter time they keep your cat, but I have heard when they come home you can only handle them 10 minutes out of every hour, keep children/pregnant women away form them, and take precautions with their (radioactive) litter. It was very hard on me; I missed Bo terribly. But after 12 days, I could snuggle with him, handle him all I wanted, and I only had to store his litter 3 weeks before I could dispose of it - not hard at all.

So now, nearly 2 years after, Bo is doing great! He went in with a slight heart murmur, but was given an echocardiogram first and it was determined to be OK for radioiodine. This vet had treated cats that were 20 years old, and since it is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure (just boring for the cat), I felt it was the best choice.

I would not hesitate to have it done again if I had another hyperthyroid cat.