Feline Radioactive Thyroid i-131 Treatment
Treatment with Radioactive Iodine (I-131) for cats with hyperthyroidism is as easy as one injection (just like receiving a routine vaccine.) I-131 is safe and effective with a short, few day stay in our facility.
I-131 hyperthyroid treatment is absorbed quickly into your cat's bloodstream and his or her diseased thyroid tissue. Once the iodine is in the thyroid, it destroys the overactive portions of the thyroid gland without damaging healthy tissue.
If your cat needs treatment for hyperthyroidism, your regular veterinarian can help.
IODINE TREATMENT REFERRAL INFORMATION FOR REFERRING VETS
How do I refer a client for radioactive iodine treatment?
Referrals can be handled via either fax or phone. In both cases, the referral form will need to be completed prior to scheduling the appointment. Please give us a call at 919-847-5533 or fax the referral form to 919-847-9363. Once we have the referral form, we will contact the client to set up the treatment.
Download the referral form here.
What information do we need?
Here at the Cat’s I131 Radioactive Iodine Treatment Center, we appreciate your patronage and trust with your I131 referrals. In order to provide the best and safest service possible, we have been revising our admission protocol. We have updated our screening requirements to further promote a seamless experience aligned around patient safety:
- Complete medical records will be needed in order to become more familiar with the patient’s health history, and to determine if they are good candidates for I131 treatment.
- Blood pressure screening and evidence of successful medical management if hypertensive. Uncontrolled hypertension can increase patient morbidity and adverse events.
- Lab work, including a real T4, within 30 days of I131 referral. If a patient is on Methimazole or Y/D, they will need to be off the product for a minimum of 48 hours and the T4 level measured. This is necessary since the dose of I131 given is based on their real T4 value, not age or weight.
- If a heart murmur is present, baseline thoracic radiographs, along with interpretation, is needed due to the direct effect hyperthyroidism can have on the heart muscle. Baseline NT-proBNP and an echocardiogram are not required but recommended.
- Fractious patients will be screened on a case-by-case basis. If they easily take sedation orally (e.g. gabapentin) and can be handled, I131 treatment can be considered. If they cannot be handled safely and require injectable sedation, we will not be accepting those patients at this time. Due to AAHA Standards of Care regarding monitoring sedated patients and their recovery, along with limiting exposure of our staff to a radioactive patient, sedation will no longer be feasible.
These new requirements have been instituted in order to provide the most favorable outcome and experience for our sensitive hyperthyroid patients. We truly appreciate your past and future referrals, and look forward to providing this invaluable service to you and your patients for years to come.
Please feel free to call and discuss any individual cases with specific needs.
When are treatments performed?
Radioactive Iodine treatments will be performed on Tuesday mornings. Owners will be asked to attend a 30-minute information session the morning of treatment so that we can outline home care, follow-up recommendations and address their concerns. Most cats will be ready for release on the Thursday afternoon.
Our current office hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm, Tuesdays 7:30am-8:00pm and Saturday 7:30am-1:00pm.
How soon can I schedule an appointment?
Please call us for specific scheduling information. Often times, we are able to schedule treatments for the next treatment Tuesday.
Will you send my patients back for regular medical care?
ABSOLUTELY! In fact, we will not accept the patients referred to our clinic for regular medical care. We will make recommendations for follow-up lab panels to be completed at your hospital. We know that we can offer a convenient service, quality care, and excellent customer service to your clients and patients.
What is your financial policy?
We will require a deposit of $500 at the time the appointment is scheduled. Payment of the remainder of the invoice is due the morning of check-in prior to treatment. We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover and Care Credit. We are able to process Care Credit applications for clients that are interested or they can apply online prior to their visit at www.carecredit.com. Please instruct care credit applicants to search under Veterinary and the zip code of 27614.
What information will I receive after the treatment?
Clients will receive instructions for the care of their cat at the time of check in and discharge. We will also fax this information to you within 24 hours to ensure that you have all of the information that you need for the medical record. It is recommended that follow-up care be performed by the referring veterinarian to maintain consistency with your practice, but we are certainly available if needed for questions.
Who do I call if I have additional questions?
Feel free to call us any time with questions. While we will be able to answer to majority of questions immediately, we may need to return your call after discussing the case in question with Dr. Allen.
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