Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Basophilic leukemia treated with hydroxyurea in a Shih Tzu dog
By Mears, E A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1997·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Basophilic leukemia in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old Shih Tzu was diagnosed with basophilic leukemia, a type of blood cancer, after showing signs of illness. The vet used special tests on blood and bone marrow samples to confirm the diagnosis. The dog was treated with hydroxyurea, a medication that helped improve blood cell counts within a week. While the treatment worked well for 21 months, the dog later became lethargic, and the owners chose to euthanize without further testing.
People also search for: dog leukemia treatment · Shih Tzu lethargy · hydroxyurea side effects in dogs
Abstract
Basophilic leukemia with thrombocytosis was diagnosed in a 4-year-old Shih Tzu. This diagnosis was based on cytochemical staining and cytologic examination of blood and bone marrow smears. Hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, at a dose of 50 mg/kg PO bid induced hematologic remission after 7 days of treatment. Adverse effects observed included pruritus, erythema of the ventral abdomen, generalized alopecia, and possibly, diabetes mellitus. The dog remained in remission for 21 months before becoming lethargic, at which time the owners requested euthanasia but did not allow a necropsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9127296/