My friend had the 131 radioactive iodine , how long should she wait to cuddle with her pets. ?

Question

They told her to wait before she gets near pregnant women and children, and not to be so close, but what about animals. After the 7 day she still had the radioactive in her throat, and they told her she can go back to work on the thirteenth day. If you don't know where can I find out for her, she is sad.

Answer 1

Iodine-131 have a half life of 8 days.  After ten half-lives for any radioactive substance, the radiation level becomes insignificant.  

Answer 2

I would put pets in that same category as children.

Children and fetuses have strict NRC radiation dose requirements.  And since we are not all walking around with radiation monitors, it is best to minimize their dose by avoid pregnant women .

Radiation effect on animals is known and is similar to humans, but I never see or heard of any radiation exposure requirements for animals.  

The radiation biology I studied applied to humans. To be safe treat them as kids.  If you are that concerned contact the Radiation Safety Officer or Health Physicist from the hospital.