# Doxorubicin: veterinary dose and monograph

> Doxorubicin is a veterinary drug. An anthracycline CHEMOTHERAPY agent dosed by BODY SURFACE AREA (mg/m²), not mg/kg — one of the most important and broadly active veterinary cytotoxics, central to LYMPHOMA protocols (the "H"/doxorubicin in CHOP) and used for… Indications include lymphoma / lymphoid leukaemia (CHOP and single-agent doxorubicin protocols); haemangiosarcoma (adjuvant/with other agents); osteosarcoma (adjuvant with carboplatin). This monograph lists 4 reference doses for dogs, cats, horses and ferrets, each with route, frequency and source.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/doxorubicin · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Veterinary drug
- **Also known as:** Adriamycin, Adriablastina, Doxorubicin HCl
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats, Horses and Ferrets
- **Routes:** IV
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Lymphoma / lymphoid leukaemia (CHOP and single-agent doxorubicin protocols)
- Haemangiosarcoma (adjuvant/with other agents)
- Osteosarcoma (adjuvant with carboplatin)
- Various carcinomas and soft-tissue sarcomas (per protocol)

## Doxorubicin 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

*Doxorubicin doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing) | 30 mg/m² IV every 2–3 weeks (dogs <15 kg: 1 mg/kg) | IV | every 2–3 weeks (per protocol) | — |

- Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing): Dosed by BODY SURFACE AREA (NOT mg/kg). Papich 5e: 30 mg/m² IV every 21 days; dogs >15 kg 30 mg/m², <15 kg 1 mg/kg. Plumb’s p.447: 30 mg/m² IV every 2–3 weeks; maximum cumulative dose 240 mg/m² (cardiotoxicity). Echocardiography before and during treatment; CBC before each dose. Vesicant — perfect IV technique. Consult an oncologist.

### Cats

*Doxorubicin doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing) | 20–25 mg/m² (≈1.25 mg/kg) IV every 3 weeks | IV | every 2–4 weeks (per protocol) | — |

- Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing): Papich 5e: 20 mg/m² (≈1.25 mg/kg) IV every 3 weeks; 25 mg/m² appears equally tolerated. Plumb’s p.447: 20–30 mg/m² IV every 2–4 weeks; maximum cumulative dose usually 240 mg/m². Nephrotoxicity is dose-limiting in cats — monitor renal values.

### Horses

*Doxorubicin doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neoplasia (per protocol) | 70 mg/m² (0.84–0.96 mg/kg) IV every 3 weeks for six cycles | IV | every 3 weeks | — |

- Neoplasia (per protocol): Papich 5e. Consult an oncologist.

### Ferrets

*Doxorubicin doses for ferrets*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neoplasia (per protocol) | 30 mg/m² IV every 3 weeks | IV | every 3 weeks | — |

- Neoplasia (per protocol): Plumb’s p.447. Consult an oncologist.

## Contraindications

Pre-existing cardiac disease / reaching the cumulative cardiotoxic dose ceiling. Significant myelosuppression. Cats with renal impairment (nephrotoxicity). Perivascular administration (vesicant — necrosis). Pregnancy. Known hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid — premedicate/slow infusion). Hepatic impairment (reduce dose — hepatic clearance).

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cats: Nephrotoxicity is the dose-limiting toxicity in cats — monitor renal function; cumulative cardiotoxicity is less prominent than in dogs.

> **Caution:** Dogs: Cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity (dilated cardiomyopathy) — echocardiographic monitoring and a cumulative-dose ceiling are essential; certain breeds (e.g. Dobermanns) are more susceptible.

## Adverse effects

- CUMULATIVE cardiotoxicity (arrhythmias acutely; dilated-cardiomyopathy/CHF chronically — often irreversible)
- Myelosuppression (neutrophil nadir ~7–10 days)
- GI: vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia (delayed colitis in dogs)
- Severe tissue necrosis if EXTRAVASATED (vesicant)
- Anaphylactoid infusion reactions; nephrotoxicity (cats); red urine (harmless); alopecia

## Drug interactions

- Other cardiotoxic drugs / prior chest radiation: additive cardiotoxicity
- Other myelosuppressive chemo: additive marrow suppression (built into protocols)
- Cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisolone: combined in CHOP
- Dexrazoxane: a cardioprotectant/extravasation antidote used with doxorubicin

## Pregnancy and lactation

Contraindicated in pregnancy (teratogenic/cytotoxic). Handle with full cytotoxic precautions; pregnant staff must not handle/administer.

## Monitoring

- CARDIAC function — echocardiography before starting and periodically; track CUMULATIVE dose toward the ceiling
- CBC before each dose (neutrophil nadir ~7–10 days)
- IV catheter placement/patency (vesicant) and the site during/after infusion
- Renal values (especially cats); GI signs; anaphylactoid-reaction surveillance during infusion

## Toxicity and overdose

Defining toxicities: cumulative, often IRREVERSIBLE cardiotoxicity (acute arrhythmias; chronic dilated cardiomyopathy/CHF — hence the cumulative-dose ceiling and echocardiographic monitoring), myelosuppression, GI toxicity (incl. delayed haemorrhagic colitis in dogs), anaphylactoid infusion reactions, and — in cats — nephrotoxicity. EXTRAVASATION causes progressive, severe tissue necrosis. Overdose intensifies all of these.

Management: No simple antidote. DEXRAZOXANE is used both as a cardioprotectant and as the antidote for doxorubicin EXTRAVASATION (give IV within hours; also stop, aspirate, apply COLD compresses — opposite to vinca extravasation). Manage neutropenic sepsis (antibiotics ± G-CSF), GI toxicity, and cardiac failure supportively; treat anaphylactoid reactions (slow/stop infusion, antihistamine/steroid). Monitor cardiac function and CBC.

## Clinical pearls

- Dose by BODY SURFACE AREA (mg/m²) and TRACK the CUMULATIVE dose — cardiotoxicity is cumulative and often irreversible (echo before and during therapy; respect the ~180–240 mg/m² canine ceiling)
- A potent VESICANT — a flawless single-stick IV is essential; for extravasation, use COLD compresses and dexrazoxane (the opposite approach to vincristine)
- The backbone anthracycline of lymphoma (CHOP) and many solid-tumour protocols; check the CBC before every dose
- In CATS, nephrotoxicity (not cardiotoxicity) is dose-limiting — monitor renal values; handle with full cytotoxic precautions

## Mechanism of action

An anthracycline that (1) intercalates into DNA and inhibits TOPOISOMERASE II, causing DNA strand breaks and blocking replication/transcription, and (2) generates free radicals (reactive oxygen species) that damage DNA and membranes — cytotoxic to rapidly dividing cells (cell-cycle non-specific). The free-radical generation, to which cardiac muscle is especially vulnerable (low antioxidant capacity), underlies the characteristic cumulative cardiotoxicity; the same reactive metabolites cause the severe tissue necrosis on extravasation.

## Formulations and products

- Injection 2 mg/mL (10 / 50 mg vial)
- Liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) — reduced cardiotoxicity
- Adriamycin / Doxorubicin — 2 mg/mL (10 / 50 mg vial), Injection (human-label)
- Doxil (liposomal) — 2 mg/mL liposomal, Injection (reduced cardiotoxicity) (human-label)

## Storage

Injection: REFRIGERATE (2–8 °C), protect from light. Handle as a hazardous cytotoxic (closed-system/PPE); dispose appropriately. Reconstituted/diluted per protocol.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** 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.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Doxorubicin for dogs?

Reference doses for Doxorubicin in dogs: 30 mg/m² IV every 2–3 weeks (dogs <15 kg: 1 mg/kg) IV every 2–3 weeks (per protocol) (Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Doxorubicin for cats?

Reference doses for Doxorubicin in cats: 20–25 mg/m² (≈1.25 mg/kg) IV every 3 weeks IV every 2–4 weeks (per protocol) (Lymphoma / neoplasia (BSA dosing)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Doxorubicin for horses?

Reference doses for Doxorubicin in horses: 70 mg/m² (0.84–0.96 mg/kg) IV every 3 weeks for six cycles IV every 3 weeks (Neoplasia (per protocol)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Doxorubicin not be used?

Pre-existing cardiac disease / reaching the cumulative cardiotoxic dose ceiling. Significant myelosuppression. Cats with renal impairment (nephrotoxicity). Perivascular administration (vesicant — necrosis). Pregnancy. Known hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid — premedicate/slow infusion). Hepatic impairment (reduce dose — hepatic clearance).

### What are the side effects of Doxorubicin in animals?

CUMULATIVE cardiotoxicity (arrhythmias acutely; dilated-cardiomyopathy/CHF chronically — often irreversible); Myelosuppression (neutrophil nadir ~7–10 days); GI: vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia (delayed colitis in dogs); Severe tissue necrosis if EXTRAVASATED (vesicant); Anaphylactoid infusion reactions; nephrotoxicity (cats); red urine (harmless); alopecia.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.