Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Side effects of one vinblastine dose in small dogs under 10 kg
By Matsuyama, Fukiko et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·Japan Small Animal Cancer Center, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Adverse events in small dogs treated with a single dose of vinblastine.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 small dogs, each weighing less than 10 kg, received a single dose of vinblastine, a chemotherapy drug used for treating tumors. After treatment, most dogs experienced a drop in white blood cells (neutropenia), which can increase the risk of infections, while some had mild symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Although these side effects were generally manageable, the study highlighted the need for careful monitoring of small dogs receiving this medication. Overall, the treatment was considered safe, but the dosage may need to be adjusted for smaller breeds.
People also search for: small dog chemotherapy side effects · vinblastine for dog tumors · dog vomiting after chemotherapy
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vinblastine (VBL) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat malignant tumors in dogs. Although a maximum tolerated dose of 3.5 mg/m2 has been reported, the safety and tolerability of this dose in small dogs remain inadequately characterized. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Retrospectively evaluate adverse events (AEs) associated with a single IV administration of VBL at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m2 in dogs weighing < 10 kg. We hypothesized that AE occurrences in small dogs would be comparable to those reported in phase I studies involving larger breeds. ANIMALS: Forty client-owned dogs weighing < 10 kg with malignant tumors. METHODS: Adverse events after a single IV VBL administration at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m2 were retrospectively evaluated in small dogs with malignant tumors. Myelosuppressive and gastrointestinal AEs were graded using VCOG-CTCAE v2.0 criteria. RESULTS: Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 82.5% (33/40) and 5.0% (2/40) of dogs, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 32.5% (13/40), comprising 15.0% (6/40) with Grade 3 and 17.5% (7/40) with Grade 4 events. Inappetence, vomiting, and diarrhea were reported in 7.5% (3/40), 7.5% (3/40), and 25.0% (10/40) of dogs, respectively, and were generally mild. Febrile neutropenia was noted in 5.0% (2/40) of dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Vinblastine administered at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m2 in small dogs with malignant tumors resulted in gastrointestinal toxicity within clinically acceptable limits, but close monitoring for neutropenia is warranted. These findings suggest that dose escalation of VBL, as reported in larger dogs, may not be feasible in smaller dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41910421/