The relation of body weight to surface area in square meters

for dogs is given in the following table:

Kg m2 Kg m2 Kg m2
0.5 0.06 17 0.66 34 1.05
1 0.10 18 0.69 35 1.07
2 0.15 19 0.71 36 1.09
3 0.20 20 0.74 37 1.11
4 0.25 21 0.76 38 1.13
5 0.29 22 0.78 39 1.15
6 0.33 23 0.81 40 1.17
7 0.36 24 0.83 41 1.19
8 0.40 25 0.85 42 1.21
9 0.43 26 0.88 43 1.23
10 0.46 27 0.90 44 1.25
11 0.49 28 0.92 45 1.26
12 0.52 29 0.94 46 1.28
13 0.55 30 0.96 47 1.30
14 0.58 31 0.99 48 1.32
15 0.60 32 1.01 49 1.34
16 0.63 33 1.03 50 1.36

Body surface area in ‘ square meters’ for dogs and cats may be obtained from the
following formula:
K x W2/3
BSA = ----------------
104
Where, K = constant (10.1 for dogs ; 10 for cats)
W = weight in grams
BSA = Body surface area in square meters

Doses for anticancer drugs are calculated as a function of body surface areas (m)
rather than body weight because the blood supply to the organs responsible for
detoxification, kidney and liver, is more closely related to surface area than body weight
ANTI-NEOPLASTIC DRUGS
DRUGS MECHANISM OF MAJOR Dose& Route of
ACTION INDICATIONS Adm.
ALKYLATING
AGENTS alkylate DNA, Lymphoma, sarcomas, 60mg/kgBW
Cyclophosphamide cross-linking of mammary daily oral
DNA strands adenocarcinoma,
lymphocytic leukemia
Melphalan Alkylates DNA Multiple myeloma 150mcg/kgBW
causing miscoding daily or
and cross-linking of 250mcg/kgBW
DNA strands daily for 4
weeks oral
Chlorambucil Alkylates DNA Chronic lymphocytic 100mcg/kgBW
causing miscoding leukemia, lymphoma daily oral
DNA strands
Carboplastin Inhibits both DNA CNS neoplasias ,GI 300-360mg/m2
and RNA synthesis carcinomas, multiple BSA by IV
myeloma
Streptozocin Inhibits DNA Temporary remission of 100mcg/kgBW
synthesis hypoglycemia resulting daily
from functional
pancreatic islet cell
tumor
Dacarbazine alkylate DNA, Lymphoma 2-4.5mg/kgBW
inhibits RNA daily for 10
synthesis days IV10-
15mg/day for 4-
8days oral
Busulfan Alkylates DNA, Chronic myelogenous 60mcg/kg BW
causing miscoding of leukemia, polycythemia daily oral
DNA strands vera
ANTIMETABOLITES
Methotrexate Inhibits formation of Lymphoma, Sertoli cell 10-15mg/day
tetrahydrofolate, a tumor, osteosarcoma, for 4-8 days oral
necessary cofactor in metastatic transmissible
thymidylate venereal tumor
synthesis, essential
for DNA synthesis
and repair
Fluorouracil Pyrimidine analog, GI, lung, liver, and 15mg/kgBW
interferes with DNA mammary carcinomas once a week
synthesis and may be (systemic); cutaneous oral
incorporated into carcinomas (topical) 15mg/kgBW in
RNA to cause toxic 500ml DNS
effects
Cytarabine Pyrimidine analog, Lymphoma (including 100mg/m2 BSA
incorporates into CNS), leukemias bid by rapid
DNA causing stereo inj.IV.& Ithecal
hindrance and 10-30mg/m2for
inhibition of DNA meningitis
synthesis
ANTIBIOTICS
Dactinomycin disrupting helical Choriocarcinoma, 15mcg/kgBW
(Actinomycin D) structure and DNA testicular carcinoma, per day or400-
template, inhibits rhabdomyosarcoma, 600 mcg/m2
RNA and DNA lymphoma BSA IV
polymerases
Doxorubicin Disrupts helical Lymphoma, acute 60-75mg/ m2
structure and DNA lymphocytic and BSA IV
template, inhibits granulocyticleukemia,
RNA and DNA sarcomas carcinomas,
polymerases
Mitoxantrone DNA aggregation, Lymphoma,carcinomas, 8-12mg/ m2
oxidation, and strand fibrosarcoma, BSA IV
breakage hemangiopericytoma
Bleomycin generates oxygen Carcinomas (testicular, 15,000IU thrice
radicals that cause squamous cell of head a week IM/IV
chain scission and and neck, cervical,
fragmentation ofpenile)lymphoma,
DNA seminoma,malignant
teratoma
MITOTIC disruption of mitotic Lymphoma and 0.1-
INHIBITORS spindle apparatus leukemias, 0.5mg/kgBW
Vinblastine and arrest of cell mastocytoma IV
cycle
Vincristine disruption of mitotic Transmissible venereal 25-75 mcg/kg or
spindle apparatus cell tumors, lymphoma 1.4mg/m2
and arrest of cell and leukemias, CNS IV
cycle tumors, mammary
adenocarcinoma, soft-
tissue sarcomas,
immune-mediated
thrombocytopenia

MISCELLANEOUS Reacts with proteins Osteosarcoma, 50-120mg/m2

Cisplatin and nucleic acids; carcinomas (transitional BSA with %
forms cross-links cell, testicular, NS, IV
between DNA squamous cell of head
strands and between and neck, ovarian,
DNA and protein; cervical, bladder, and
disrupts DNA lung), mesothelioma
synthesis
L-Asparaginase Inhibits protein Acute lymphocytic and 1000units/kg
synthesis lymphoblastic leukemia BW/10days
and lymphoma with NSor
Dextrose 5%
Mitotane (o,p¢DDD) Destroys adrenal Pituitary
zona fasciculata and hyperadrenocorticism,
zona reticularis palliation of adrenal
 cortical tumors
Hydroxyurea Inhibits conversion Polycythemia vera, 20-30
of ribonucleotides to mastocytoma, mg/kgBW oral
deoxyribonucleotides granulocytic and
basophilic leukemia,
thrombocythemia
Etoposide Causes Carcinomas (testicular, 50-100mg/m2
topoisomerase-II- small cell lung) IV
mediated DNA
scission

HORMONES
Prednisolone inhibits mitosis in Lymphoma, mast cell 60mg/m2 IM,IV
lymphocytes tumors, palliative
treatment of brain
tumors
Tamoxifen Anti-estrogenic; Estrogen-receptor- 20mg/day single
blocks the effects of positive mammary dose oral
estrogen on target carcinomas
tissues
Flutamide Anti-androgenic; Testosterone-receptor- 250mg TID oral
competes with positive prostatic
testosterone for tumors; surgical
binding to androgen castration preferred
receptors
Leuprolide GnRH analog that Testosterone-receptor 1-3.5mg IM or
initially stimulates, positive prostatic SC
then decreases, the carcinomas or perianal
secretion of FSH and tumors, surgical
LH,lead to decreased castration preferred
concentrationof
testosterone (males)
and estrogen
(females)