Oral chemotherapy agents in cats: clinical uses, administration and side effects.

Oral chemotherapy offers practical alternative to injectable drugs in feline cancer management.

This review article addresses the use of oral chemotherapy agents in feline oncology, a topic of significant clinical relevance given the high prevalence of cancer in cats. The authors acknowledge that while injectable chemotherapy may intimidate general practitioners, oral chemotherapy presents a more manageable alternative for practice-based treatment. However, the small body size of cats creates substantial dosing challenges when utilizing tablet formulations designed for human patients. Additionally, the administration of oral medications to cats presents behavioral and practical difficulties. The review comprehensively covers available oral cytotoxic medications, their therapeutic indications, appropriate dosing strategies, and potential adverse effects. The authors emphasize important health and safety considerations for veterinary personnel handling these medications. The review synthesizes information from both historical and contemporary veterinary literature on oral cytotoxic drug use in feline patients. Hematopoietic malignancies, particularly lymphoma, represent the most common indication for oral chemotherapy in cats, though the review addresses multiple tumor types requiring systemic chemotherapy management.

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