Radioactive Kitteh

[Orsino]

Thirteen-year-old (at least) Rosie, at right in the picture above, has gone mildly hyperthyroid. She's always been the most frenetically active member of our pride, but we never suspected that this could be a symptom until her most recent blood test earlier this year. We tried out Tapazole (a lower dose than for humans), but she doesn't tolerate it well (made her vomit and become a little reclusive). Being in good health otherwise, she was an excellent candidate for radioactive iodine treatment.

Kitties have two thyroids, and the doctors found one enlarged. This was presumably a benign tumor, and is responsible for the too-high level of thyroid hormone in her blood. Normal readings are four or less, and Rosie's was eleven. The other cat getting the treatment this week is older, and had a level of eighteen.

She got her pill on Monday, and spent three days in isolation at the hospital. She was discharged yesterday afternoon, acting normally. The half-life of I-131 is 8.1 days, so whatever small amount she hasn't excreted is down to about 70% of its radioactivity. We are to keep Rosie in isolation for two more weeks, staying more than three feet away from her in general. We can handle her, but are to limit that to 5-10 minutes two or three times a day. We are required to use a flushable litter (radioactive waste can't go into a landfill, but the water supply is apparently a fine destination) and to use gloves when cleaning up waste.

Interestingly, an aunt of mine just had the same treatment last week: I-131 pill, two days of isolation, plus a week or two of keeping her distance from people.

The doctor tells us that Rosie is unlikely to require any further medication; her other thyroid will probably suffice. We'll have her thyroid level checked again in a few weeks, and another precautionary blood test a few months later to ensure her liver function hasn't been impaired.

I'm hoping the radiation will give her superpowers. :D

[hamsterjill]

1. Wow, this is fascinating!

Wishing Rosie well!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. What kind of superpowers would you like Rosie to have?

A flying cat would be cool.

[Orsino]

3. Oh, she can already fly.

She can pass through solid doors, and can do calculus.

If she could shoot laser beams, that would be awesome.

[Orsino]

4. Two weeks' isolation ended today!

Rosie is back from quarantine in the basement, and mixed with the Krewe without any hissing or fighting--I guess she no longer smells anything like a vet hospital. It's as though she never left, but she's put on weight without losing her fly-through-the-air-with-the-greatest-of-ease sassiness.

Not sure what other superpowers may have developed.

[japple]

5. Great to hear a happy ending. So glad to hear that Rosie

is no longer glowing in the dark!

[Orsino]

6. Just got word that Rosie's blood values are now perfect.

Weeks later, she seems to be on track for living on one thyroid gland with no medication. B-)

[Orsino]

7. With one tyroid working, Rosie's blood value puts her at the low end of normal.

The vet, however, thinks that she is in such excellent health overall that no thyroid meds are called for.

[kestrel91316]

8. I1131 treatment of hyperthyroid cats is one of the truly great medical

developments of the past 20-25 years. I have sent patients as old as 16 to get it, and they always do great afterwards and live for years, and in nearly 25 years I have never seen a single one need repeat treatment, though they warn that it can happen.

When my hospital mascot developed hyperthyroidism 3 1/2 years ago I SO wanted to do the I131, but she had concomitant renal failure so my hands were tied. She did ok anyway. I just put her to sleep 2 weeks ago at the ripe old age of nearly 19.

[Warpy]

9. Radioactive iodine used for medical purposes

has a pretty short half life, so by the time that flushable litter goes completely through the sewage treatment process, the radiation will likely be little over background levels. Flushing it and diluting it in the sewage system is the best thing. Leaving it concentrated in a landfill is not.

The same thing goes if you have a septic system and leaching field. Given a couple of weeks, it will have dropped close to background levels.

The hard part will be listening to the plaintive meows of a kitty who feels pretty good and can't understand why she's not dozing in your lap.

The radiation will just make her a little calmer and you're going to have to watch her diet. She's used to eating a lot to keep her weight up and will likely overeat now and turn into a fat cat.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Any super powers apparent yet?

;-)