The recommended doxorubicin (DOX) dose for small dogs is 1 mg/kg. Recent data suggest that DOX-induced gastrointestinal (GI) toxicosis can be reduced with maropitant treatment.
To investigate the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in small-breed dogs administered a single 25 mg/m DOX followed by administration of maropitant (DOX25). The primary aim was to assess myelo- and GI toxicoses for 2 weeks after DOX administration. The secondary aim was to compare the incidence and grades of AEs found in the DOX25 group with a historical control group (DOX 1 mg/kg without administration of antiemetic or antidiarrheal medications).
Nineteen small-breed tumor-bearing dogs.
A prospective, observational study of tumor-bearing dogs, weighing 5 to 10 kg, administered a single 25 mg/m dose of DOX IV, followed by administration of maropitant for the next 5 days.
Inappetence, vomiting, and diarrhea were found in 7/19, 2/19, and 6/19 of the DOX25 dogs, respectively. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 12/19 and 3/19, respectively. Most AEs were grades 1 and 2, except for grades 3 and 4 inappetence and neutropenia in 3 and 4 dogs, respectively. Furthermore, febrile neutropenia occurred in 3/19 dogs in the DOX25 group. All AEs between the DOX25 and historical control groups were not significantly different.
Vomiting and diarrhea were deemed acceptable with 25 mg/m DOX followed by maropitant treatment in 5 to 10 kg dogs; however, additional supportive care might be needed for dogs with inappetence and neutropenia.

© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

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