Chronic myelogenous leukemia in the dog

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Hematology
• Canine Oncology

Background:

• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a rare myeloid malignancy.
• Diagnosis in dogs often presents with nonspecific clinical signs.

Observation:

• Seven dogs presented with marked neutrophilia, excluding infection, alongside general illness.
• Diagnostic methods included blood smear cytology, bone marrow aspirates, and lymph node biopsy.

Findings:

• Morphologic cytology confirmed CML in all seven dogs.
• Hydroxyurea treatment effectively reduced circulating white blood cell (WBC) counts in five dogs.
• The efficacy of hydroxyurea in preventing leukemic blast crisis remains uncertain.

Implications:

• This study highlights key diagnostic indicators for canine CML.
• Hydroxyurea may be a useful adjunct for managing neutrophilia in canine CML.
• Further research is needed to evaluate long-term treatment strategies and outcomes for canine CML.