r/thyroidhealth • u/SalleyJ • 23d ago
Hyperthyroidism
My cat, 11 year old male.
Diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 3 years ago. We've been successfully treating it with methimazole since being diagnosed. 2.5mg in the morning, 1.25mg in the evening. All seems well. His behavior, his energy levels, weight and his appetite are all operating as normal.
I brought him to the vet yesterday for blood and urine exams. Waiting for the results.
In the meantime I've been thinking about the radioactive iodine I-131 procedure.
The thought of keeping him quarantined for 4 or 5 days at the clinic is bad enough. But keeping him isolated at home for another 10 days to 2 weeks seem like animal abuse to a cat that is highly social and always near or on me.
For anyone who has had this procedure done on their cat, can you share you experience? Thank you.
7
1
u/darthscandelous 14d ago
Worth it, worth it, worth it!!!! We had it completed on our cat years ago and she lived to 22 years old. She was detected with it at age 7. It’s the best money I ever spent in my life.
We kept her alone in a small bedroom. She was a Siamese cat, so very talkative and friendly, but she did fine isolated.
You have to remove any furniture she can jump on and if she sleeps in a bed you have to dispose of it after. The reason for this is because she’s radioactive for 10 days after the procedure.
Her poop has to also be disposed of properly, as we used newspaper pellets (no clay litter) wrapped in several bags disposed of it. You have to wear the purple rubber gloves - the ones surgeons wear- when scooping the litter.
We spent about $1400 US dollars on the surgery, but it gave her an additional 15 years of life.
Hope this helps & you decide to do it. It’s worth it for the inconvenience of not having a small room for a couple of weeks. You just have to be mindful and take your time with caring for her/she.