Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low-dose naltrexone treatment in dogs with cancer quality of life
By Garza, Meagan A et al.·Published in International journal of pharmaceutical compounding·2026·Magnolia Pharmacy, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case Series of Veterinary Cancer Patients Treated with Oral Low-Dose Naltrexone.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Seven male dogs with different types of cancer, including liver cancer and lymphoma, were given low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as part of their palliative care. The dogs took either 2 mg or 4.5 mg capsules daily, which was increased to twice a day after the first month. Owners reported improvements in their pets' happiness, pain control, appetite, and mobility, with no side effects noted. This suggests that LDN could be a helpful option for improving the quality of life for dogs undergoing cancer treatment.
People also search for: dog cancer treatment options · low-dose naltrexone for dogs · improving quality of life in dogs with cancer
Abstract
A veterinary referral center specializing in veterinary oncology collaborated with a local compounding pharmacy to evaluate the effects of adding low-dose naltrexone (LDN) to the palliative care of dogs undergoing treatment for various cancers. Seven male neutered dogs were initially enrolled, each prescribed naltrexone 2 mg or 4.5 mg capsules (LoxOral), depending on body weight. Dosing began once daily for 30 days, then increased to twice daily for the remainder of the three-month study. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed at baseline and every 9-10 days using a structured, cancer-specific veterinary questionnaire. Four dogs were evaluable, representing diagnoses of hepatocellular carcinoma, T-cell lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and multilobular osteochondrosarcoma. Improvements were observed in multiple domains, including happiness, mental status, pain control, appetite, hydration, and mobility. Owners consistently reported a maintained or enhanced quality of life. The treatment was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. These results suggest that oral compounded LDN may be a valuable palliative care option in veterinary oncology, particularly when incorporated upon diagnosis to help preserve quality of life throughout treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41819128/