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sandmstables
Member
Username: sschoen
Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - 4:21 pm: |   |
Now here's a question that I bet no one has posed to you, Dr. O. We live within the 10 mile radius of a nuclear power plant (and no, our horses do not have extra tails or legs due to that!). Recently, it came time to pick up our new "human" doses of Thyroshield to keep on hand should there ever be an accidental release. I work in Radiation Protection, so this is not unfamiliar territory to me, so I know the concept, but in lay man's terms for those who are not: take the dose of potassium iodide, which will bind in your thyroid, preventing the uptake of the radioactive iodine. Of course, you also have to evacuate the area, but the Thyroshield is supposed to protect you should you have an accidental exposure in the process of evacuating.
What about our horses? We had always figured we'd pack up the horses and evacuate everyone. Obviously, the authorities don't provide Thyroshield for animals, but would it work for them as well? In theory it should. Want to take a guess at whether it would, Dr. O? It comes in a nice, black raspberry flavored syrup, in a large enough bottle to dose 15 150 lb. humans, so the dose would be ample. Bet the horses would love the flavor  |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18434
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 9:25 am: | |
Though there are differences in human and horse thyroid function the actions of iodine and the creation of thyroid hormones is the same. So in principle, yes, it should be protective to horses but I am trying to imagine a practical application: Imagine you receive notice that there has been an accidental release. It becomes critical that you leave now. Should you take the time to medicate the horses? I admit I would collect up my dogs and cats and pack them into the van but it might take over an hour to get up all the horses and medicate them.
It is reassuring to note that, as far as I know, there has never been a dangerous release of radioactivity (even Three Mile Island) from any nuclear power plant in this country so hopefully this discussion is purely conjectural.
DrO |
sandmstables
Member
Username: sschoen
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 10:01 am: | |
Thanks for the input. According to the package, it should be taken within 3-4 hours of exposure, so I can imagine we would dose ourselves, pack everyone up, evacuate the area and dose the horses upon arrival at a remote location.
Of course, it is purely conjectural, as there has yet to be a release anywhere, but better to be safe than sorry.
My husband and I just thought it was humorous that this dose came in liquid and in such a quantity that would allow us to dose horses as well as humans! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18469
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 6:45 am: | |
Hmmmm sandmstable, whereas I can see several factors that may effect what I would do, if there is imminent danger of exposure to radiation do you think it prudent to take the extra half hour or so of time to hook up the trailer, bring in and load up the horses, and then try to evacuate with a horse trailer? Iodine only protects against one complication of radiation exposure.
DrO |
