Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fever and low white cells in cats after chemotherapy treatment
By Pierro, J et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2017·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Febrile neutropenia in cats treated with chemotherapy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats undergoing chemotherapy developed febrile neutropenia, which is a serious condition marked by fever and low white blood cell counts. Symptoms included decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most cats were treated with intravenous fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics, which helped resolve their fevers and return their white blood cell counts to normal in 19 out of 20 cases. This highlights the importance of monitoring cats after chemotherapy for signs of illness.
People also search for: cat chemotherapy side effects · why is my cat vomiting after chemo · febrile neutropenia treatment in cats
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, potential causative agents, treatment and outcome of febrile neutropenia (FN) in chemotherapy-treated cats. Medical records from eight institutions were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 22 FN events in 20 cats were evaluated. Lymphoma was the most common cancer diagnosis; lomustine and vinca alkaloids were the most frequently implicated causative agents. Presenting clinical signs included decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea. Median body temperature and absolute neutrophil count at presentation were 104.1 °F; 40 °C (range: 103.1-105.1 °F; 39.5-40.6 °C) and 246 mL(range: 0-1600 mL), respectively. Median number of days between chemotherapy administration and FN onset was 5 (range: 4-25 days). All but one cat were treated with intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics. Fevers resolved in all cases and absolute neutrophil counts returned to normal in 19 cats. Clinical presentation of cats with FN appears similar to that of dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27094020/