There are three treatments for feline hyperthyroidism: daily medication administration, surgical removal of the affected tissues or radioactive iodine therapy. All three forms of treatment have their pros and cons, but radioactive iodine therapy is considered the preferred method of treatment in most cases in terms of both effectiveness and overall safety.
Radioactive Iodine or I-131 Therapy is a one-time treatment that is sufficient to normalize thyroid function in approximately 98% of cases! This highly effective treatment utilizes radioactive iodine to selectively destroy the malfunctioning thyroid tissues. Healthy thyroid tissues are not affected by the treatment, nor are other organs, as they do not utilize iodine. It is considered the safest methods of treatment and cats usually have normal thyroid function within 4-6 weeks following radioactive iodine therapy. This treatment is cost effective over time versus daily medication regimes and saves cat owners from having to administer medications 1-2 times per day for the lifetime of their cat.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy
