VETINUITY
L-asparaginase is dosed at 400 IU/kg IM or SQ in dogs and cats for lymphoma protocol induction, rescue, or combination protocols.
For canine and feline lymphoma, L-asparaginase is administered at 400 IU/kg intramuscularly or subcutaneously per the Vetinuity L-asparaginase dose calculator below.
| Indication | Species | Dose | Route and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relapsed multicentric lymphoma with rabacfosadine | Dog | 400 IU/kg | SQ Concurrently with first two rabacfosadine doses |
| Multicentric or gastrointestinal lymphoma protocols | Dog | 400 IU/kg | IM Weekly or per combination protocol |
| Untreated or large cell lymphoma | Cat | 400 IU/kg | IM Single dose or per combination protocol |
In dogs, L-asparaginase is commonly administered at 400 IU/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly as part of multiagent protocols or rescue regimens.
In cats, L-asparaginase is given at 400 IU/kg intramuscularly for initial remission induction or multiagent chemotherapy protocols.
In dogs with multicentric or gastrointestinal lymphoma, L-asparaginase is integrated into first-line or rescue regimens. Replacing cyclophosphamide with L-asparaginase in the LHOP protocol yielded a median progression-free survival of 344 days and median survival time of 344 days, demonstrating significantly longer progression-free survival compared to standard CHOP protocols.
In dogs with presumed gastrointestinal large cell lymphoma, continuous weekly L-asparaginase therapy achieved an overall clinical response rate of 94% and ultrasonographic response rate of 56%, with median progression-free survival of 50 days and median overall survival of 147 days. For relapsed multicentric lymphoma, administering L-asparaginase at 400 IU/kg SQ concurrently with the first two rabacfosadine treatments achieved an overall response rate of 67% and complete response rate of 41%.
In cats with lymphoma, a single intramuscular dose of L-asparaginase at 400 IU/kg significantly reduces plasma asparagine concentrations within two days, although levels return toward baseline by day seven. Initial single-agent L-asparaginase administration in cats produced an overall response rate of 30% across various anatomic sites.
In feline large-cell gastrointestinal lymphoma, first-line L-asparaginase induction achieved a response rate of 37.2%, with significantly higher response rates observed in gastric lesions (64.3%) compared to intestinal lesions (24.1%), and in non-anemic cats (57.1%) compared to anemic cats (15.0%). Multiagent protocols such as VAPC incorporating L-asparaginase achieved a median progression-free survival of 184 days in feline alimentary lymphoma.
Hypersensitivity reactions to L-asparaginase occur in 4.2% of dogs (1.6% of administered doses) and were not documented in cats receiving intramuscular injections across 197 doses. Transient metabolic alterations occur post-treatment; in cats, plasma ammonia and aspartic acid increase significantly, with hyperammonemia occurring in 10 of 12 evaluated cats and plasma phosphate rising within 24 hours.
Hemostatic shifts occur following L-asparaginase administration in dogs. Single-dose administration resulted in significantly reduced fibrinogen levels at 24 and 48 hours, prolonged prothrombin time at 24 hours, and lower antithrombin III concentrations at day seven post-injection. Combining L-asparaginase with intermediate-dose methotrexate did not attenuate methotrexate-induced gastrointestinal toxicosis.
Vetinuity, the clinical assistant built by Brian Toncray, an emergency veterinarian, provides L-asparaginase protocol guidance, dose math, and medical record summaries.
Hypertonic saline is dosed at 4 mL/kg IV for canine intracranial hypertension and 3.3 mL/kg IV over 15 minutes for feline volume expansion.
Calcium gluconate is administered intravenously at 14 to 42 mg/kg in dogs and cats to treat acute ionized hypocalcemia and severe hyperkalemia.
Cyclophosphamide dosing ranges from 10 mg/m2 PO q48h for canine metronomic therapy to 200-250 mg/m2 PO for pulse lymphoma protocols in dogs and cats.
Mitoxantrone is dosed at 5 mg/m2 IV q21d in dogs and 2.5 to 6.5 mg/m2 IV q21d in cats for lymphoma, carcinoma, and mesothelioma.
Hypersensitivity reactions occur in 4.2% of dogs, representing 1.6% of total doses administered. In cats, no hypersensitivity reactions were observed across 197 intramuscular doses.
L-asparaginase markedly decreases plasma asparagine at day two post-injection, though concentrations normalize by day seven. Plasma ammonia and aspartic acid elevate significantly on days two and seven, with hyperammonemia occurring in most evaluated cats.
Yes. Single-dose administration in dogs causes a temporary drop in fibrinogen at 24 and 48 hours, prolonged prothrombin time at 24 hours, and significantly reduced antithrombin III concentrations by day seven.
First-line L-asparaginase induction achieves a 37.2% overall response rate in feline large-cell gastrointestinal lymphoma, with higher response rates in cats with primary gastric involvement (64.3%) and those without anemia (57.1%).
Vetinuity explains clinical options with journal citations.
The veterinarian diagnoses and prescribes.