Welcome, Veterinarians!
Radioactive iodine (I-131) is the gold-standard curative therapy for feline hyperthyroidism. It is a single oral capsule that selectively ablates hyperfunctional thyroid tissue, followed by a short stay in a licensed, lead-lined treatment ward for usually about 4-5 days.
We know most hospitals cannot offer I-131 in-house due to radiation licensing and facility requirements. This is where we come in... and we're so excited to share this resource with you!
We have thoughtfully designed and constructed a dedicated, feline-only, lead-lined I-131 treatment suite right here in Baton Rouge. Our affectionately nicknamed "Hot Cat Lab" is a calm, comfortable space created just for cats! This project has been years in the making, and it means our local feline community no longer needs to travel far for the gold standard treatment.
Our goal is to make curative hyperthyroidism treatment accessible, comfortable, and close to home for the cats and caregivers of Baton Rouge and beyond! We are honored to serve as a resource for our fellow veterinary teams and the patients you know best.
How does it work? Your patient receives the single-dose I-131 treatment and short hospital stay with our feline-focused team, and then returns to you for ongoing care! However, if it’s easier for your workflow, we’re also happy to handle post-treatment lab monitoring and share full results and interpretation back with your team. Let us know how we can best partner with you!
We built this so we could all offer better care together.
How We Work Together
Your clinic:
- Makes the diagnosis
- Discusses treatment options with the caregiver
- Sends recent diagnostics & records
- Continues all routine and long-term care
- Performs follow-up lab checks (or we can, if you prefer)
Our clinic:
- Reviews diagnostics and confirms candidacy
- Collaborates with you if comorbidities need consideration
- Administers the I-131 dose
- Provides daily care, monitoring, comfort, and enrichment during hospitalization
- Educated the caregiver at admission and discharge including:
- Clear at-home quarantine and litter disposal instructions
- A go-home bag with handouts and FAQs, gloves, flushable litter, etc, and a few other fun surprises and treats! - Keeps caregivers informed and supported during treatment with daily updates (photos, texts, and/or calls depending on client preference)
- Prepares and sends a full discharge summary and follow-up recommendations to your team
We treat your patients with the same care and kindness that you do.
Many of our referring veterinarians are long-time colleagues, friends, and trusted partners, and we are grateful to continue building that circle of collaborative feline-focused care!
About the Treatment
I-131 is the gold-standard, curative therapy for feline hyperthyroidism. A single dose of radioactive iodine targets hyperfunctional thyroid tissue selectively, sparing normal cells.
- Delivered as a single oral capsule
- No anesthesia required!
- Most cats achieve normal thyroid function after only one treatment
- Hospital stay is typically 4-5 days in our dedicated radiation ward
- Daily care, comfort measures, enrichment, and monitoring provided by our feline-only team
Caregivers will receive 24/7 live webcam access to check in anytime during hospitalization!
Case Suitability
Ideal candidates:
- Confirmed hyperthyroidism
- Recently evaluated renal and cardiac status
- Able to discontinue methimazole or Y/D prior to treatment
For cats with CKD, cardiomyopathy, or more complex cases, we are always happy to review records and talk through decision-making with you. Please reach out anytime for consultation!
Referral Process
- Email records to: [email protected]
- We’ll review and check in with your first to confirm candidacy and discuss any considerations
- We contact the caregiver to schedule treatment
- Cat receives I-131 therapy and short hospitalization with us
- Patient returns to your care for follow-up monitoring
Pre-Treatment Requirements
- CBC, chemistry with SDMA, total T4, urinalysis, thoracic radiographs (2 views) within 1 month
- TSH level if T4 is borderline
- Blood pressure measurement (if not available, we will obtain on admission)
- Most recent T4 values included
- Note any radiographic abnormalities in referral
- Discontinue methimazole ≥ 14 days or Y/d for 6 weeks prior
- After patient has been off of methimazole/y/d for 6 weeks, TT4 at least 10 business days before the appointment - this is very important! This is what we will base the treatment dosage off of.
Post-Treatment Monitoring
We’ll continue to support you after treatment, too! When follow-up results are available, please send them our way. We’ll review, interpret, and reach out if any adjustments or supplementation are recommended. We’re here to make this successful for everyone: you, your client, and most importantly, the cat! We are also happy to perform these labs and exams if that is more convenient to you.
- 1 month post: Exam with body weight, systolic blood pressure, CBC, chemistry with electrolytes and SDMA, total T4, TSH
- Evaluate for euthyroid vs. hypothyroid status
- Repeat labs at 3 months
- Repeat labs at 6 months
- Repeat labs at 12 months, then minimally annually
- Note interventions (levothyroxine or repeat therapy if indicated)
We’re Here for Our Friends & Colleagues
Our veterinary community in South Louisiana is special. Many of us have known each other for years, through mentorships, consults, conference tables, and cases shared back and forth.
Offering I-131 is just another way we can all support one another and ensure cats in our region have access to the standard of care they deserve!
Thank you for trusting us with your patients. We take that trust seriously.
To Refer a Case or Request a Consult
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 225-228-1039
We are always happy to talk through case selection or “grey zone” patients - just give us a call!
- Dr. Lacie Lee & Cat Care Center Team
