Dear Glowing: Cats suffering from an overactive thyroid gland or hormone-producing tumor are often injected with RadioIodine or I-131 just under the skin to destroy the diseased thyroid tissue. The I-131 is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and after reaching the targeted tissue the radiation is excreted through urine and feces. The cat will stay at the clinic for approximately three to ten days once a safe level of radioactivity is measured before she comes home. Depending on the level of radiation she emits will determine when she is released.

Clinics that treat cats are required by their state’s health department as well as the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to make sure the cat’s radioactive levels are within acceptable guidelines before going home. Once home there is a two-week period of transition until your cat doesn’t pose any risk to yourself or your puppy.

Precautions

The small amount of I-131 that remains in your cat’s system shouldn’t pose any threat to your puppy but just to be on the safe side there are some guidelines to follow to be sure there is no exposure to the puppy. Why risk it?

Once home, the cat still has trace amounts of radioactivity in her bodily excretions including urine, feces and saliva. Therefore, I would keep the cat in her own room with the door closed for the duration.

You can put her own water and food bowls and litter box in the room and keep the puppy out. When handling the cat, thyroid clinics usually recommend you don’t go face-to-face with your cat for more than 10 minutes per day for two weeks. Wash your hands after handling the cat and before you handle the puppy. When you go to scoop and clean the litter box, use a long handled scooper and wear disposable rubber gloves for each cleaning. Make sure you dispose of the litter box contents in a sealed plastic bag and keep it out of reach of the puppy.

Be aware that the cat will lick herself to stay clean and get saliva on her fur and the more you handle her with bare hands and then touch your puppy the more exposure you could give your puppy.

While the law prevents the cat from being released before she is at an acceptable radioactive level being diligent during the two weeks after the cat has returned home should prevent any problems from occurring.

 

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

Even if you’ve been to many of the premier dog shows in the United States, like the Westminster Kennel Club show at Madison Square Garden or the newer AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, a trip abroad to see the rest of the world’s dog shows is a must- do on any purebred dog fancier’s list.

There is a travel company that caters to those types of canine dog show adventures called Fresh Pond Travel. This Massachusetts-based company through its Dog Show Tour Department can take you in style to such dog shows as the World Dog Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina in July, the Bermuda Dog Shows, Obedience and Agility Trials in November the incredible Crufts Dog Show, with an entry of over 20,000 dogs, in England in March 2005. They also have tour packages for trips to Moscow, Mexico City, Scotland, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica.

For more information about travel arrangements for you and your dog contact them at: Fresh Pond Travel at www.dogshowtravel.com or call at 877-DOGSHOW (746-9364).

 

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her at www.lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.