Radioiodine Therapy (I-131 Therapy)

What exactly is going to happen to my cat while it is at VDIC?

On the day of your pet’s arrival, a small injection of I-131 will be given under the skin. The following days, your cat will not experience any discomfort secondary to the treatment but will be resting comfortably in a large cage that faces a 6 foot by 6 foot window with a view of a bird feeder. The room is extremely well ventilated with continual background music played for your cat’s enjoyment.

Can I visit my cat?

Due to the radiation levels you are not able to visit your cat while he/she is staying with us. However, if you have compatible software for the “cat cams” you may view here. Some cats are hard to visualize on the camera due to many variables including coat color, time of day, activity level, etc… Please enjoy what can be seen with the cameras.

I have multiple animals in the house; do I need to be concerned about them?

It all depends on how social the other animals are. If your cat would rather be on the opposite side of the room than with the other animal(s) in the house, you do not need to be concerned. On the other hand, if your treated cat likes to sleep with or near the other animals, then it is better to keep your cat separate when you are not able to supervise them. It is fine for the animals to all share the same water dish, food bowls, and litter box. If several cats share the same litter box, you must use flushable litter and treat all the urine and feces as if they came from the cat treated.

Do I need to worry about the radiation?

Commonly, hidden in our closet of anxieties is our fear of radiation. Many people do not realize that it is the most studied, best understood and perhaps the most widely used agent in our society. All of us are exposed to radiation in our daily lives. The earth, air and water we drink all contain small amounts of background radiation. There is not any proven evidence that has established an increase in either human diseases or harmful effects when cumulative exposures are 10 times that of background. The residents of Colorado (due to higher elevation) receive a background radiation 2-3 times that of us here in Oregon. Therefore, the very low dose of radiation you will receive when caring for you cat can be compared to a few months of our background radiation.
For more information: http://www.gbmc.org/p.cfm/cancer/radoncology/risksofmedicalradiation.cfm

Do I need to wear gloves to pet my cat?

No, unless there is a chance that your cat has inadvertently soiled its coat with urine or feces.

What if my cat vomits within the first two weeks he/she is at home?

If your cat vomits, wear the latex gloves and clean up the vomitus with any cleaning agent you normally use. If you use toilet paper or kleenex (recommended), flush everything down the toilet. If you use a cloth towel or paper towels, you will need to hold onto these towels in a separate, double-lined, garbage bag. After the 5 week period, you can throw it out in the garbage or wash it with your laundry.

Is the bedding, couch, carpet, etc that my cat sleeps on going to become contaminated?

No, providing that he or she has not urinated, defecated, or vomited on anything.

How soon will my cat begin to gain weight and be back to her/his old self?

That is very variable. Some owners see changes in their cats weight and behavior immediately while for others it may take 3 to 5 months.

What payment options do you offer?

We accept all major credit cards as well as cash and check. However, if you would like to spread your payments out, you can apply for CareCredit® which offers a 3 month same as cash option. For more details, click the link below or call our office.