Here's something that might help gettig the pills down Stormy. Thirty years ago when I was working as a pediatric nurse, I learned that babies have a reflex that causes them to swallow. After you get the meds in their mouth, gently tap their nose or blow into their nose. They will reflexively swallow. A couple of years later, when I began breeding persians, I tried it on the cats and it worked! Later, I asked the vet about it and she onfirmed that dogs and cats had the same reflex as human babies, but unlike humans, they don't lose it at 12 months. I have used this on my cockers when they are recalcitrant about taking pills. Once I get the pills into their mouth, I gently hold their mouth shut and blow puffs of air into their nose or gently tap until they swallow. This works about 7 out of 10 times for me.
Also, I could be wrong, but I don't think the "iodine" test has anything to do with the thyroid. I think it refers to a type stain they do to differentiate cancer cells on the slide the pathologist looks at.
Hope Stormy and you have a restful Sunday.
Best Wishes for a Speedy Recovery!
Gale and her crew Shadow, Tango and Gibbs