Streptozocin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Streptozocin for pets during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Streptozocin for pets
(strep-toe-zoe-sin)
Description:
This medicine is used to treat cancer.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Zanosar®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: there is no standard veterinary product.
- For people: it comes as 1 gram vials that are mixed with liquid before use.
Key Information
- Streptozocin is a cancer-treatment drug (chemotherapy). It can be dangerous to people and to other animals if they come into contact with it.
- On the day your pet receives this medicine, and for the next few days, you must treat all body waste as potentially unsafe. This includes:
- urine
- stool
- cat litter
- blood
- vomit
Only handle these while wearing disposable gloves.
- Put the waste and anything used to clean it up (for example, paper towels and gloves) into a plastic bag. Then put that bag into a second plastic bag (double-bag it). After that, you may place it in the regular trash.
- This medicine can harm the kidneys, the liver, and the bone marrow (the part inside bones that makes blood cells).
- Pregnant women MUST NOT handle any waste or anything used to clean up waste while the animal is receiving this medicine.
How is this medication useful?
- Streptozocin is mainly used in dogs to treat insulinoma (a tumor that affects insulin) after surgery.
- This medicine is approved for use in people, but it is not officially approved for use in animals. In some situations, the FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe a medicine like this for a different species or for a different condition. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make the best choices together.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about every product your animal is receiving. This includes:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter products
- vitamins
- supplements
- herbal products
Also share the dose amount and the timing schedule for each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, and any it has had in the past.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal has had from medicines in the past. This includes:
- allergic reactions
- not wanting to eat
- diarrhea
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- It may take several days before you see helpful changes.
- The full benefit may not be clear for several weeks.
- Some unwanted effects, such as stomach upset or sleepiness, can happen right away.
- If your animal improves, it will usually happen slowly over the time it takes for the medicine to reach its full effect.
- The effects of this medicine last a moderate amount of time. This means they may last for a few days. The helpful results may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver do not work as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, talk with your veterinarian about whether to use this medicine.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to any ingredient in it.
- Animals that do not have a confirmed diagnosis of insulinoma.
- Animals that have kidney, liver, or bone marrow problems, or animals that already have infections.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and not wanting to eat can occur. This medicine can cause very strong vomiting after it is given. Veterinarians often prescribe another medicine to help reduce this. If vomiting is severe or does not stop, or if diarrhea becomes bloody, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Kidney injury can occur. Streptozocin can cause serious kidney damage that may not go away. While your animal is in the hospital, your veterinarian will give extra fluids through a vein (IV fluids) to try to lower this risk.
- Damage to the skin and nearby tissue can happen where the injection was given. If the medicine leaks outside the vein during treatment, it can badly injure the skin and surrounding area. If you notice redness or swelling where the medicine was given, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Your animal will receive this medicine only at your veterinarian’s clinic. If you are worried about anything related to your animal, contact your veterinarian.
How should this medication be given?
This medicine is given by injection by your veterinarian at the clinic. You will not be giving this medicine at home.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you cannot attend a planned treatment visit, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to arrange a new appointment.
How should I store this medication?
You will not be bringing this medicine home.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- You will not be handling the medicine itself. However, for a few days after your animal receives it, the medicine can be present in the animal’s saliva, urine, stool, and blood.
- This medicine can cause serious harmful effects in people or animals who are exposed to it. To prevent contact with bare skin, wear disposable gloves. Take care not to touch or rub your eyes by accident.
- Wear gloves when you throw away cat litter or pick up dog stool, and when you clean up urine or vomit. Do not use the same gloves again.
- Put the waste, used gloves, and anything used for cleanup (for example, paper towels) into a plastic bag. Then place that bag into a second plastic bag (double-bag it). After that, put it in the regular trash.
- Do not allow a treated animal to lick human skin. If the medicine gets on skin, wash the area well with soap and water.
- If you have any concerns, contact your physician.
- Pregnant women MUST NOT handle any waste or anything used to clean up waste while the animal is receiving this medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
This medicine is only given at your veterinarian’s clinic, so you will not need to throw away any unused medicine.
What other information is important for this medication?
- After your animal receives this medicine, your veterinarian will need to do follow-up checkups and blood tests. Do not miss these important follow-up visits.
- Your animal should not receive vaccines that contain live (or modified live) viruses while receiving this medicine.
- To protect other animals and people, do not take your dog to a dog park, and do not allow your animal to urinate or pass stool in public areas, until your veterinarian says it is okay.
- Your animal should not take part in animal competitions while receiving this medicine. Being around other animals may put your animal at serious risk of infections during chemotherapy treatment. Ask your veterinarian when it is safe to return to these events.
- If you have any other questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”