Dacarbazine (DTIC)

What is this medication for?

• Relapsed lymphoma (with doxorubicin), soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma

How is it given?

This medication is normally given by your veterinary team (in clinic or hospital).

What if I miss a dose?

• Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
• Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.

Side effects — what should I watch for?

Effects listed as common in this handout

• Myelosuppression (Standard risk)

Worth a phone call to your veterinarian

• Severe stomach/intestinal toxicity (dose-limiting) (Prominent — aggressive antiemetic support required)
• Hepatotoxicity, hypersensitivity (Reported)

⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice

• Trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, facial swelling, or pale gums

Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:

• has or has had: Hypersensitivity; cats (unreliable hepatic activation)
• has or has had: Marrow suppression; hepatic/renal impairment monitoring

• is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
• is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
  • Doxorubicin
  • Other myelosuppressives
  • Hepatotoxic drugs

Storage and handling

Diluted into a vein only; serious vesicant — extravasation injuries; light-sensitive (protect infusion from light); full chemo PPE.

Good to know

• The 5–8 HOUR infusion is the dispensing/protocol signature — this is not a push drug; pharmacy flow-rate planning matters.
• Dog-only by metabolism: like many prodrugs, the cat's liver doesn't reliably perform the activation → species line drawn by biochemistry, not toxicity alone.
• Severe vomiting made DTIC notorious in human oncology — veterinary use leans on modern antiemetics to keep it tolerable.