title: Gastrointestinal toxicity after vincristine or cyclophosphamide administered with or without maropitant in dogs: a prospective randomised controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal toxicity in dogs receiving chemotherapy with vincristine and cyclophosphamide and the efficacy of maropitant citrate (Cerenia™, Zoetis) in reducing these events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs receiving chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide or vincristine were randomised to either receive maropitant or not in the period immediately after treatment and for 4 days afterwards. Owners completed a diary of adverse events following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adverse events occurred in 40/58 (69%) dogs in the vincristine group. Most of these adverse events were mild and included: lethargy (62%), appetite loss (43%), diarrhoea (34%) and vomiting (24%). Adverse events occurred in 34/42 (81%) dogs treated with cyclophosphamide. Most of these adverse events were mild and included: lethargy (62%), diarrhoea (36%), appetite loss (36%) and vomiting (21%). There was no difference in total clinical score, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite loss or lethargy score between dogs treated with maropitant and non-treated dogs in either the vincristine or cyclophosphamide groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy-related side effects are frequent but usually mild in dogs receiving vincristine or cyclophosphamide. Prophylactic administration of maropitant does not reduce the frequency of adverse events and maropitant should be administered only as required for individual cases.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blackwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011812:Quinuclidines; C518176:maropitant; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide