RAI and pet saftey

[witches7]

Hi all, recovering from total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid cancer and slight invasion out of differentiated capsule, currently hypothyroid, waiting for Radioactive iodine ablation therapy next week.  Urgent question:I have 2 young cats and one 9 year old dog in my house.  My endocrinologist simply told me to take precautions about not allowing the animals to sleep with me.  BUT, my vet was appalled and told me the animals should not even be in the house with me.  She told me I should not be the one to feed them, not walk the dog, have them no where in my vicinity.  Not living ina mansion, I can't isolate the cats beyond keeping them in a separate bedroom.  The dog is out of the question for keeping in a separate room.  I will keep my own bedroom and bathroom closed to them during my "confinement," but now that the vet has told me to take much more severe precautions I am beside myself.  I lack the funds to board the animals and all of my friends have their own animals and can't take them. WHAT do I do?????  Many thanks for any advice, leads, etc.  Best to all of you out there suffering through this and hoping we all get to the next healthy place in our lives.

[Mcchic12]

My endo said 10days for pets, they are treated like children.

[Liz94]

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was wondering the same exact thing. I get my RAI on the 25th and have two young cats (both 1) and an 11 year old dog.  One of the cats thinks it's a part of my body and must be near me at all times or he will die! I made the decision to board the cats for 3 nights and my husband will pick them up at closing on the 4th day. It breaks my heart.  I asked my vet about when they would be "safe" around me and he said to ask my endocrinologist. The endoc. said all that applied to humans is applied to the pets. But nobody will give me a definitive answer about when they can come back in my room and sleep on my bed. I'm guessing that by 4 days I'll have excreted most of it out, right?  But the endo said my husband can't sleep in the bed with me for 12 days.  Ask your vet why he feels there is a difference between the cats and humans. Is it because their thyroids are smaller maybe?

[blksapphire]

I was advist the same as utahmomma.  The only thing I could do was hold my kitten.   Because she was so young, they advise me not touch her at all.  The older cat came near, but i didnt allow him to touch me.  I didnt feed them. My son fed them. Do not bring them where you are isolated.

I stayed in isolation in my bedroom which has a bathroom.  the rest of the house was left to the cats and my sons.

"IF"  there is no one else, then buy some gloves.  Get everything you need before you go into isolation.

I hope this help

Terri

[utahmomma]

Just don't sleep with them, don't feed them, don't let them cuddle for more than a few seconds.   You can still walk them and be around them but the radiation is excreted in saliva, sweat, urine, and other bodily fluids.  You won't want your hands to touch their food or water bowls (use latex gloves if you must do it) and don't let them lick you.   Yeah, that was a *tough* one with my dogs.

Utahmomma
Papillary carcinoma '03
RAI '06

[Joni65]

I had a TT on 12/21/07 and now I am waiting for the RAI!  I also had papillary cancer and it invaded the lymph nodes.  I have to dogs that I was going to keep down stairs and just let my husband and kids take care of for the week!  I will call my VET Monday and see what she has to say about all of this!