What is radioactive iodine (131I) treatment?
Radioactive iodine (131I) is a radioactive material that is administered once subcutaneously (under the skin) and is approximately 98% effective in treating hyperthyroidism in cats. How long will my cat be at PUVTH for (131I) treatment? Because 131I is a radioactive material, cats must be kept in isolation for approximately 1-3 weeks. During this time, your cat will have only minimal handling although a veterinarian will check your cat daily. An animal caretaker will visit your cat 2 times a day. A radio in the isolation ward will keep your cat company during this period. Once or twice weekly, a radiation safety officer will check the radioactivity level of your cat using a special counter. As soon as levels decrease to 1.0 mR/hr (for homes with children over 12 years of age and no pregnant women) or 0.1 mR/hr (for homes with children under age 12 and/or pregnant women), the cat can be released. (Initial levels immediately after treatment are approximately 10-12 mR/hr.) The total stay
