Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

There really is no reason to give carbo with IV fluids.  The older drug cisplatin had to be given that way since it is very hard on the kidneys so diuresis with fluids is essential.  If you dilute the chemo it is still effective as long as the entire amount is given.  I was told by an oncologist that giving IV fluids with most chemo drugs just increases the duration of treatment and increases the chance that something can go wrong (such as chewing IV lines or having the catheter come loose and then getting the chemo drug out of the vein). I think that a tech should always be sitting with a dog on IV chemo the entire time because it only takes 30 seconds for something to go wrong.

The reason that some drugs like Adriamycin (doxorubricin) are diluted is because they are caustic or could cause an allergic reaction if given full strength.  I usually dilute Adriamycin with about 250 mls of saline and give it over 20-30 minutes so I can watch for a reaction.  It is okay to keep an animal on IV fluids for a while after the chemo is given (in cases of dehydration or kidney disease) but that is usually done after the entire dose of chemo is given and cleared from the IV line.

Pam