Prevalence and Risk Factors for Survival in Dogs and Cats With Cancer Admitted to the ICU.

Cancer patients in ICU have high mortality; surgery and chemotherapy improve outcomes.

This prospective observational cohort study examined 1,214 ICU admissions at a veterinary referral hospital, identifying cancer in 13.6% (165 patients: 114 dogs, 38 cats). Among cancer cases, definitive diagnosis was obtained in 73.7% of cats and 68.4% of dogs. Hematologic neoplasia predominated in cats (64.3%), while carcinomas were most common in dogs (37.2%). Respiratory distress and cardiovascular instability were primary ICU admission reasons. Survival to discharge was 56.6% overall (44.7% cats, 60.5% dogs), declining to 30.6% at 90 days. Multivariable Cox regression identified oncologic admission as significantly increasing mortality risk (HR: 6.06), while surgical treatment (HR: 0.21), chemotherapy (HR: 0.40), and normal albumin in dogs (HR: 0.44) were protective factors. Overall 90-day mortality was 69.4%, with 88% of deaths attributed to euthanasia rather than disease progression.

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