Radioactive Iodine for Hyperthyriodism Cat - where to go?
Discussion
Hi.
My cat has been diagnosed with hyperthyriodism when she had a routine blood test prior to surgery for a lump removal. The surgery didn't go ahead because of the new diagnosis.
We were quite surprised, as well as the vet, as the cat is pretty much asymptomatic: She looks very fit and well, is a fussy eater, normal activity, chilled out behaviour etc. She had a slightly raised heart rate and slightly raised blood pressure as symptoms, but only just outside the normal range. Her T4 bloods however were very high though, easily into the hyperthyriod range. Her kidneys are great too.
She has since started on tablets (we hide them in a small parcel of craft cheese slice) and her obs have come down to normal ranges.
Since she is otherwise fit and well, i have heard that the radioactive iodine treatment is very effective, and would like to give her the best chance of recovery without the risks of surgery.
(I understand that surgery can sometimes not get all the tissue removed thats needed, and other times take too much and you need to then give calcium tablets. I would also like to get scintigraphy imaging done if surgery was the only option to highlight the dodgy areas of the thyriod tissue)
Since the radioactive treatment can only be done in specialist centres, i (and my vet) have looked into where to go.
There is the Animal Health trust in Newmarket, Langford in Bristol, and Royal Vet Coll in Hatfield. There are very long waits for this treatment in these centres, and also the cats are triaged according to how needy they are (which i understand) and my guess is my cat is low priority.
I think i am going to go ahead and get her referred onto all of their waiting lists (if this is posssible), but wondered if anyone knew of any other places that offer this treatment, and also if anyone has any experience with a cat going through this at all?
My worries for my cat ara mainly psychological ones. she is a very fussy affectionate cat who only goes outside for the loo and likes her home environment. She loves to be around people. we rescued her 3 years ago and she was an attention seeker in her cage at the RSPCA too. My worry is that they can't be handled in the cages when radioactive (for obvious reasons) and that she will be pretty distressed by this. Esp as they have to be there for 4-5 weeks (i am preggers, otherwise they can come home 2-3 weeks)
advice and opinions appreciated (sorry for the long post!)
My cat has been diagnosed with hyperthyriodism when she had a routine blood test prior to surgery for a lump removal. The surgery didn't go ahead because of the new diagnosis.
We were quite surprised, as well as the vet, as the cat is pretty much asymptomatic: She looks very fit and well, is a fussy eater, normal activity, chilled out behaviour etc. She had a slightly raised heart rate and slightly raised blood pressure as symptoms, but only just outside the normal range. Her T4 bloods however were very high though, easily into the hyperthyriod range. Her kidneys are great too.
She has since started on tablets (we hide them in a small parcel of craft cheese slice) and her obs have come down to normal ranges.
Since she is otherwise fit and well, i have heard that the radioactive iodine treatment is very effective, and would like to give her the best chance of recovery without the risks of surgery.
(I understand that surgery can sometimes not get all the tissue removed thats needed, and other times take too much and you need to then give calcium tablets. I would also like to get scintigraphy imaging done if surgery was the only option to highlight the dodgy areas of the thyriod tissue)
Since the radioactive treatment can only be done in specialist centres, i (and my vet) have looked into where to go.
There is the Animal Health trust in Newmarket, Langford in Bristol, and Royal Vet Coll in Hatfield. There are very long waits for this treatment in these centres, and also the cats are triaged according to how needy they are (which i understand) and my guess is my cat is low priority.
I think i am going to go ahead and get her referred onto all of their waiting lists (if this is posssible), but wondered if anyone knew of any other places that offer this treatment, and also if anyone has any experience with a cat going through this at all?
My worries for my cat ara mainly psychological ones. she is a very fussy affectionate cat who only goes outside for the loo and likes her home environment. She loves to be around people. we rescued her 3 years ago and she was an attention seeker in her cage at the RSPCA too. My worry is that they can't be handled in the cages when radioactive (for obvious reasons) and that she will be pretty distressed by this. Esp as they have to be there for 4-5 weeks (i am preggers, otherwise they can come home 2-3 weeks)
advice and opinions appreciated (sorry for the long post!)
My beloved cat I lost last year had over-active throid but he was ok on Felimazole tablets which I gave him daily for several years. You soon get hang of administering tablet.
The radioactive iodine treatment I understand is not recommended if cat suffers from any heart conditions.
My advice anyway would be to try and treat it with the tablets.
The radioactive iodine treatment I understand is not recommended if cat suffers from any heart conditions.
My advice anyway would be to try and treat it with the tablets.
sory to hear you lost your beloved cat. 
Ours has no heart or other problems, so i am keen to cure the thyroid problem rather than treat for years and years with the risk of developing the usual thyroid problems over time.
Giving tablets is okay, but i'd rather that she was over the problem. as i hope she has many more years ahead (she is approx 10 yrs old)
Ours has no heart or other problems, so i am keen to cure the thyroid problem rather than treat for years and years with the risk of developing the usual thyroid problems over time.
Giving tablets is okay, but i'd rather that she was over the problem. as i hope she has many more years ahead (she is approx 10 yrs old)
DKL said:
Have a look on the Davies Specialist vetinary website. They are somewhere near Luton.
I know they have a fab neuro surgical dept (says the purring lump on my lap!) but there are quite a lot of others and they may be able to help.
Had a quick look on their site, and they seem to refer to cambridge vet school - it dosent look like either of these do the treatment I know they have a fab neuro surgical dept (says the purring lump on my lap!) but there are quite a lot of others and they may be able to help.
thanks though.
Any referral will need to be done by your vet, so your probably best getting back to them to see if they can find anywhere else. I think Liverpool vet school might also do the treatment, but I'm not 100% certain and I've never referred a cat for treatment.
Radioactive iodine treatment is definately the best treatment for hypeythyroidism, but it is also the most expensive (although long term medication might eventually cost more).
At least at the Royal Vet College the cats did recieve as much attention as possible, and there were Feliway diffusers in the wards to keep the cats as relaxed as possible.
Radioactive iodine treatment is definately the best treatment for hypeythyroidism, but it is also the most expensive (although long term medication might eventually cost more).
At least at the Royal Vet College the cats did recieve as much attention as possible, and there were Feliway diffusers in the wards to keep the cats as relaxed as possible.
gd49 said:
Any referral will need to be done by your vet, so your probably best getting back to them to see if they can find anywhere else. I think Liverpool vet school might also do the treatment, but I'm not 100% certain and I've never referred a cat for treatment.
Radioactive iodine treatment is definately the best treatment for hypeythyroidism, but it is also the most expensive (although long term medication might eventually cost more).
At least at the Royal Vet College the cats did recieve as much attention as possible, and there were Feliway diffusers in the wards to keep the cats as relaxed as possible.
Thanks for that. I now my vet will need to be the one to refer, but i was tryign to find extra places hopefully with a shorte waiting list. My vet is back tomorrow so i will be finilising the referral then.Radioactive iodine treatment is definately the best treatment for hypeythyroidism, but it is also the most expensive (although long term medication might eventually cost more).
At least at the Royal Vet College the cats did recieve as much attention as possible, and there were Feliway diffusers in the wards to keep the cats as relaxed as possible.
I know its expensive, but thankfully the cats insurnace will cover this.
Its nice to know that the royal vet coll cats get some attention, and i like the idea that they use feliway. This is likely to be the place she goes to as its the closest to leicester.
Just an update:
I took my cat Marmite to the Royal Vet College today to go in for her treatment.
She will be there for 4 weeks, so i will really miss her. She is a pretty chilled out cat, and i think she will cope well with the confined environment.
In their consult room she was allowed to have a wander around - she was so chilled that once she had been round the room and had some fuss from the student vets as well, she went back into her cat carrier and went to sleep!
She is having bloods tests and blood pressure checks today/tomorrow, with a view to having the radioactive iodine on wednesday. They will then phone me twice a week with updates on how she is doing.
They say she is a very good candidate for a good successful outcome.
Home feels funny already without her here...
I took my cat Marmite to the Royal Vet College today to go in for her treatment.
She will be there for 4 weeks, so i will really miss her. She is a pretty chilled out cat, and i think she will cope well with the confined environment.
In their consult room she was allowed to have a wander around - she was so chilled that once she had been round the room and had some fuss from the student vets as well, she went back into her cat carrier and went to sleep!
She is having bloods tests and blood pressure checks today/tomorrow, with a view to having the radioactive iodine on wednesday. They will then phone me twice a week with updates on how she is doing.
They say she is a very good candidate for a good successful outcome.
Home feels funny already without her here...
Yey! I picked up Marmite from the vets on monday. She is really well and the treament went fine. She had put weight on and looks really healthy.
When i got her home she stalked around the whole house, but witin an hour she had settled back in like she hadnt even left.
She is however very clingy, but can't blame her!
the nurses said she was a very friendly cat, so that made me feel great as i bet she got a bit of fuss despite being radioactive.
they also emailed me updates when i was out of the country.
I'd reccomend this treatment where possible, as its great to see a cure.
i just need to get her bloods checked at 3 and 6 months to see if her t4 has stabilised, as its initially a bit low - but thats quite common.
When i got her home she stalked around the whole house, but witin an hour she had settled back in like she hadnt even left.
She is however very clingy, but can't blame her!
the nurses said she was a very friendly cat, so that made me feel great as i bet she got a bit of fuss despite being radioactive.
they also emailed me updates when i was out of the country.
I'd reccomend this treatment where possible, as its great to see a cure.
i just need to get her bloods checked at 3 and 6 months to see if her t4 has stabilised, as its initially a bit low - but thats quite common.
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