Experiences with radioiodine (I-131) for cat hyperthyroidism?

[vxf111]

Yesterday my cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (very high levels-- normal is 0.8 and he was at 17.0). I am leaning towards treatment with radioiodine. Two places do it nearish to me…

http://www.radiocat.com/

http://www.saintfrancis.org/departments/cat-hyperthyroidism/

The RadioCat location is in DE and they keep the cat inpatient for 3 days. The St. Francis location is in NJ and they keep the cat inpatient for 5 days. I understand that difference is largely driven by differences in state law, not so much patient care. The cost is (to the penny) exactly the same at both locations. Radiocat will give a second treatment for free if the first treatment doesn’t work, but my vet seemed to think the treatment is pretty much always effective if it’s going to be. I can’t seem to figure out which is the better place to go, the vet has sent to both and had no negative comments about either.

Has anyone ever done this? Outcome? Things I should be thinking about?

[Louise]

I had it done at Cornell on my cat when she was 12. They kept her a week, partly because, before they would do the treatment, they did a very thorough checkup, complete with several tests, to determine her general health. The reasoning was that they did not want to use this fairly expensive treatment on a cat that had something else wrong with her, that would shorten her life span. In that case, medication would have been the better option. I would check with both facilities to find out if either does the same.

My cat is 16 now. The hyperthyroidism was cured, and has not manifested again. I am, naturally, very happy with the results.

Make sure that you go over the care of the cat at home very carefully with the facility. You have to be careful with contact, and with disposal of the used litter. Because of my state laws, for instance, I had to hold the litter at home for a month, before it could be accepted by the disposal service. Because I am not of reproductive age, I didn’t have to be as careful in my handling of the cat as someone younger would have to be. You also have added precautions if you have kids.

Edited to add to also check with the facilities to find out what the holding areas are like. The area at Cornell is very quiet, and subdued, which is helpful for a cat who is going to be stressed, anyways, by being away from home and handled by strangers. They also contacted me twice a day to let me know how my cat was doing. I was pretty stressed, myself, because this is a very timid cat who doesn’t eat when she is at all upset. They didn’t miss a call, and were very considerate of me, as well as of my cat.

[vxf111]

We had a thorough workup at my regular vet-- which is when we discovered the throid issues. I also have to get x-rays before he would go in for the idodine treatment.

Luckily he is no shrinking violet and has been boarded plenty-- so while I am sure he will not ENJOY the experience-- it won’t be his first vet boarding. He has been inpatient a few times for constipation issues-- it’s not his first rodeo.

Thank you for making me think of the litter issue, which I had not asked about. They did say for 2 weeks post discharge he has to be isolated. He won’t mind. The dog is going to lose her mind.

Makes me feel better to hear you had a positive experience. Thank you.

[vxf111]

Crosby had his treatment at Radiocat in Delaware. I was VERY impressed with the facility and they took great care of him. He is home and over his 2 week exile He looks much better than pre-treatment, but the proof will be in the pudding when he gets his bloodwork done one month out.