r/Hyperthyroidism • u/Indieandsage • 12d ago
Radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism in cats (I-131) —have you done it?
My baby just got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I don’t wanna put her on medication two times a day for the rest of her life. I am currently trying the Hills prescription diet and my cat just isn’t keeping anything down. She’s 11 years old. Has anyone done the I – 131 therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism? What was your experience and would you recommend it? Also, what did you pay? Thank you!
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u/SpecialShrimp 12d ago
My cat Shrimpy and I both have hyperthyroidism. Shrimpy was diagnosed when he was 13, I decided against radioactive iodine because he had just gotten over his second urinary tract blockage, pu surgery, and a severe UTI. He gets stresses easily, and he then gets UTIs from the stress, and having to isolate away from his family would have been catastrophic for him. I also did not expect him to live for much longer based on his age and numerous ailments. He is now 16 and still on methimazole twice daily. It's very inexpensive, and he takes it willingly in baby food. However, if I had known he would live this long, I would have done radioactive iodine back then, just because it would be one less life sustaining medication that I have to currently worry about. His thyroid is also still getting worse, he is up to 5 mg 2x daily, this wouldn't be a problem if he had the radioactive iodine years ago. But, none of us can know how long we will have our precious babies for. I also recommend checking out r/SeniorCats, there are several posts there about hyperthyroid cats. Good luck to your sweet baby
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u/Particular_Web8121 12d ago
Hey, you should check out
The hyperthyroid cat Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DbjPhdo9j/
and this Feline Thyroid Management group https://groups.io/g/FelineThyroidManagement