I-131 radioactive iodine for hyperthyroid cats

[MandysMom]

Thiught I'd give this it's own headline topic here in pets so in future someone could find it.
Symptoms of hyperthyroid in cats is weight loss, vomiting, itchy skin, sometimes diarrhea. Over time if neglected it can kill them from wasting away. In fact before the 70's when vets began to recognize it and find treatments, it was simply called Wasting Syndrome or Disease. A simple blood test shows thyroid levels then other blood tests show how much their liver and kidneys have been affected. There are 4 treatments that can be tried. Special low iodine food, pill pr transdermal or liquid Methimazole (also used in humans), surgery, or a sub q(just under skin) injection of a tiny amount of radioactive iodine-131 and they chill for a week in a lead lined room as radioactivity does its job then fades.
Mandy, Chris, and I made the 45 min trip to UCDavis vet teaching hospital today to see a internal medicine specialist and his student. He determined its a good option for her with a 95% cure rate from one injection with most cats then living a normal rest of their lives. Cats as old as 18 have been successfully cured. Small risk of uncovering a hidden kidney disease but that's is usually treatable.
The big drawback is the cost. About $50 a month for methimazole pills or cream. Several dollars a can for RX food. Or cost of surgery. Or $2100 plus lab work for I-131. If a cat Mandy's age of 14, lives to 18 or more as all my other cats have the math at $50 a month comes to at least $2400 va a one time I-131 treatment for $2100 and they are cured for life. it's a big decision but I have no doubt it's the right decision for my Mandy girl.
Velda