Why would radio iodine be used instead of medicine or surgery?
Medical therapy will work for some cats, but there can be several reasons it may not be the best choice. First, some cats are difficult or impossible to pill. Second, mild reactions (e.g. loss of appetite, vomiting) are common, whereas a few cats develop serious adverse reactions to the medication (blood or liver problems). Because of these side effects, periodic blood tests to monitor the cat’s condition are necessary. Finally, some owners may not want to have to medicate their relatively young cat for the rest of its life (pills must be given daily). Surgery is generally an effective treatment for hyperthyroidism but may have disadvantages in some cats. Many cats with hyperthyroidism have heart problems and are higher anesthetic risks. There is also a risk that there will be temporary damage to the adjacent parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery resulting in hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). This complication can be life threatening and result in extra hospitalization and cost. Af
