Carboplatin: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Paraplatin, Carboplatin

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

Routes

IV

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Canine appendicular/axial osteosarcoma — adjuvant chemotherapy (delay metastasis) after surgery
• Carcinomas (e.g. anal sac, nasal, mammary) and various sarcomas (per protocol)
• Feline injection-site sarcoma and carcinomas (carboplatin is the cat-safe platinum)
• Intracavitary therapy for malignant effusions (specialist)

Carboplatin dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Osteosarcoma / carcinoma (BSA dosing): Dosed by BODY SURFACE AREA. Papich 5e: 300 mg/m² IV every 3 weeks for four to six cycles. Plumb’s p.196: 300–350 mg/m² IV every 3 weeks; reduce with impaired renal function. Never confuse with cisplatin (much lower dose). CBC before each dose (delayed nadir).

Cats

• Injection-site sarcoma / carcinoma (BSA dosing): Papich 5e: 200–227 mg/m² IV every 4 weeks for four treatments (≈14.7 mg/kg for a 4 kg cat). Plumb’s p.196: 180–260 mg/m² every 3 weeks; also used intratumorally for nasal planum carcinoma. Nadir may be later and deeper in cats. NEVER cisplatin in cats (fatal pulmonary oedema).

Rabbits

• Neoplasia (per protocol): Plumb’s p.196 (cats and rabbits). Consult an oncologist.

Contraindications

CATS — cisplatin is fatal (use carboplatin instead); do not confuse the two platinum drugs. Pre-existing significant myelosuppression. Significant renal impairment (dose by GFR/reduce — renally cleared). Pregnancy (teratogenic/cytotoxic). Known platinum hypersensitivity. Cytotoxic-handling precautions required.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Carboplatin is the cat-SAFE platinum — but cats have a delayed/profound nadir (monitor CBC closely). NEVER give cisplatin to cats (fatal pulmonary oedema).

Adverse effects

• Myelosuppression — neutropenia/thrombocytopenia with a DELAYED nadir (dose-limiting; nadir ~1–3 weeks, later in cats)
• GI: vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia
• Nephrotoxicity (much less than cisplatin) and ototoxicity (uncommon)
• Anaphylactoid infusion reactions (platinum); alopecia

Drug interactions

• Other myelosuppressive chemo/radiation: additive marrow suppression
• Aminoglycosides/other nephro-/ototoxins: additive (though carboplatin is much less nephrotoxic than cisplatin)
• Live vaccines: avoid during immunosuppression

Pregnancy and lactation

Contraindicated in pregnancy (teratogenic/cytotoxic). Full cytotoxic-handling precautions; pregnant staff must not handle/administer.

Monitoring

• CBC before each dose AND during the (delayed) nadir period — the key monitor
• Renal function (dose by GFR in azotaemia; carboplatin is renally cleared)
• Anaphylactoid-reaction surveillance during infusion (repeated cycles)
• Tumour response/metastasis surveillance; cytotoxic-handling precautions

Toxicity and overdose

The dose-limiting toxicity is MYELOSUPPRESSION with a characteristically DELAYED nadir (later still in cats). GI toxicity is generally mild-moderate; nephro- and ototoxicity are far less than with cisplatin. Anaphylactoid platinum reactions can occur (especially with repeated cycles). Overdose intensifies marrow suppression. Cats tolerate carboplatin but NOT cisplatin (which is fatal to them).

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive/intensive care for myelosuppression (antibiotics for neutropenic sepsis, ± G-CSF, transfusion for severe thrombocytopenia). Anticipate the DELAYED nadir — monitor CBC over weeks. Treat anaphylactoid reactions (slow/stop infusion, antihistamine/steroid). Support renal function; monitor.

Clinical pearls

• The platinum drug for OSTEOSARCOMA adjuvant chemo — and, unlike cisplatin, it is SAFE in CATS (cisplatin causes fatal pulmonary oedema in cats: never confuse them)
• Much less nephrotoxic/emetogenic than cisplatin — no forced saline diuresis needed; MYELOSUPPRESSION (delayed nadir) is the dose-limiter instead
• Dose by BSA (and by GFR in renal patients); check the CBC before each cycle and expect the nadir to be delayed (even later in cats)
• Avoid aluminium-containing needles/equipment (platinum-aluminium reaction) and handle with full cytotoxic precautions

Mechanism of action

A platinum compound that, after aquation, forms covalent platinum-DNA adducts and intra-/inter-strand CROSS-LINKS, distorting DNA and blocking replication/transcription — triggering apoptosis of dividing cells (cell-cycle non-specific), analogous to alkylating agents. Its more stable leaving group (vs cisplatin) gives slower, less reactive kinetics — translating clinically into much less nephro- and neuro-toxicity and emesis, with myelosuppression instead as the dose-limiting effect.

Formulations and products

• Injection 10 mg/mL (50 / 150 / 450 mg vial)
• Paraplatin / Carboplatin — 10 mg/mL (50 / 150 / 450 mg vial), Injection (human-label)

Storage

Injection: 15–25 °C, protect from light; do NOT use aluminium needles/equipment (platinum reacts with aluminium — precipitation/loss of potency). Handle as a hazardous cytotoxic; dispose appropriately.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

• Calcitriol
• Calcium Borogluconate (IV Calcium)
• Calcium EDTA (Calcium Disodium Edetate)
• Carbimazole
• Cetirizine
• Chlorambucil
• Chlorpheniramine Maleate
• Clenbuterol

Frequently asked questions