Admission And Procedure Policies

1. The pre-admission appointment will take approximately 15 minutes. At this time your questions will be answered and you will inform us of your cat's feeding pattern and likes and dislikes. A name band will be placed on your cat for identification.

2. All cats taken into and released from the facility must be in a carrying case. No cat may be carried into or out of the facility in the arms of their owner. If the owner does not have a carrying case, we can provide them with one at additional cost.

3. Owners are encouraged to bring their cat’s normal food, treats, (especially if their pet has a specific need or preference). Also, owners are encouraged to bring a few personal objects/toys/bedding for their cats while they are at the therapy center. These cannot be returned due to radiation safety regulations. We reserve the right to limit the amount of material which can be left for a pet.

4. Your cat will be admitted for the chest and abdominal ultrasound plus the RadioIodine (I-131) therapy (which will be performed the following day). Your cat will receive one injection of the RadioIodine (I-131). After the injection, your cat will be closely monitored for health and RadioIodine (I-131) levels during the stay. If; however, the ultrasound evaluations reveal a variation that requires additional consideration, the RadioIodine (I-131) will not be given and we will call you (and your veterinarian) immediately.

5. The Thyro-Cat centers are spacious, comfortable, climate controlled, and complete with videos for your cat to enjoy. Most cats are housed with us for 5-10 days in New York, 3-5 days in Connecticut and 2 days in Massachusetts.

6. When the level of RadioIodine being emitted from the pet is below the level the State and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission mandates, and we feel it is appropriate, the owner is contacted and an appointment is made to discharge the pet. Arrangements can also be made for clients who wish to have their cat stay with us longer. This extra precaution attests to our commitment to assure the therapy is conducted in a manner that is most beneficial to the patient, safest for the owner, and reflects favorably on the referring veterinarian.

7. When released from the facility, the cat is monitored by the referring veterinarian in order to assure that he or she has responded appropriately to the therapy. The referring veterinarian receives a summary sheet outlining the health care treatment given to their patient while housed in our facility Included in this summary sheet are the recommended monitoring steps to be performed after release. The referring veterinarian may interact with the specialists as needed.

   This one-time treatment is sufficient to normalize thyroid function in 98% of cases. However, if in the rare case, sequential thyroid function assessments indicate persistent or recurrence of the hyperactive state, then another course of I-131 may need to be scheduled if deemed appropriate.

8. When the patient is released from the facility, the owners will be given RadioIodine safety information and instructions on how to manage their cat’s waste.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Thyro-Cat.