Author: Deborah Haywood, NCertMed, BSc(Hons), RVN. Deborah graduated from Harper Adams University in 2015 with a degree in veterinary nursing and practice management. She worked in a first opinion hospital for 5 years, then moved to a referral practice. Deborah started as a rotating nurse before finding a love for oncology. After a short spell back in first opinion practice, Deborah now works at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists, where she has been part of the medicine team and achieved an NCert in medical nursing before becoming an oncology nurse and helping to set up the new oncology department, which opened in July 2025. Outside work, Deborah loves spending time with her husband and exploring the Cheshire countryside on foot with her dog, Meg, and from the saddle on her horse, Chandler.
Abstract: Cytarabine is a treatment option for meningoencephalitis of unknown origin, an immune mediated neurological disease of dogs. Any veterinary professional setting up and administering a constant-rate infusion (CRI) of cytarabine needs to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE),
such as impermeable gowns, long nitrile gloves, eye protection and respiratory protection. PPE must also be readily available in the ward for staff to wear when interacting with the patient. The prescribing veterinary surgeon will evaluate the patient’s haematology results before calculating the desired cytarabine dose based on the animal’s body surface area. The cytarabine CRI must be prepared using a closed system transfer device, ideally within a laminar flow cabinet to help prevent user exposure. The CRI needs to be protected from light once prepared and while being administered; to achieve this, an opaque bag can be placed over the fluid bag, with UV-light-protected extension sets or syringes being used to connect to the patient. It is important that the intravenous catheter is inserted at the first attempt with no trauma to the vein, to avoid leakage of the medication. The patient must be in an appropriate environment while the CRI is being administered, consisting of a floor-level kennel lined with absorbent sheets and bedding. All cytotoxic waste must be collected separately from other practice waste and disposed of by specialist contractors.
Keywords: cytarabine, chemotherapy, constant-rate infusion, meningoencephalitis of unknown origin
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56496/YKTN5735
To cite this article: Haywood, D. (2025) A guide to the safe set-up and administration of cytarabine CRIs. VNJ 40(4) pp44-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56496/YKTN5735
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