Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How doxorubicin affects heart function and failure risk in dogs
By Herrera, Gustavo Cavinato et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Institute of Biomedical Science·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Impact of Doxorubicin on Cardiac Function in Dogs: Ejection Fraction Changes and Heart Failure Risk.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs receiving doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer, showed signs of heart problems, particularly a decrease in heart function. The studies reviewed indicated that both intravenous and intracoronary methods of administering the drug could lead to heart failure, with the intracoronary method being more harmful. On average, the dogs experienced a significant drop in their heart's ejection fraction, which measures how well the heart pumps blood. This highlights the importance of closely monitoring dogs on doxorubicin for any signs of heart issues during treatment.
People also search for: dog cancer treatment heart problems · doxorubicin side effects in dogs · dog heart failure symptoms
Abstract
Doxorubicin is an antitumor antibiotic. It is often used in veterinary medicine to treat and extend the lives of dogs with cancer. A cardiotoxic side effect can lead to heart failure and treatment discontinuation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the drug's cardiotoxic effects on the ejection fraction (EF) of dogs in doxorubicin protocols. The search was done in eight databases, with a total of 3587 articles screened, resulting in fifteen eligible articles included. A report on the included studies' methods and results was done. It also assessed the risk of bias. Thirteen articles demonstrated cardiac changes in echocardiography with different routes of administration (intravenous and intracoronary). The intracoronary route was more toxic, and in all six studies performed, there was heart failure. The intravenous route caused heart failure in six of the nine studies. A meta-analysis showed this drug worsened heart disease. It included four studies where it significantly lowered the EF. Overall, the intervention produced a mean reduction of 21.24% in EF. This review shows doxorubicin's impact on cardiac function. It reveals the need for careful monitoring of each patient.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40853202/