Doxycycline

There are many medications which are safe for both humans and dogs to take — usually in different doses — and Doxycycline is one of them. 

This broad-spectrum antibiotic is a useful weapon for doctors and vets to use against a wide variety of bacterial and microbial infections.

Having been prescribed to patients for more than half a century, it’s considered to be a highly trusted and effective drug.

This introductory guide to Doxycycline for dogs covers:

• The common diseases Doxycycline is prescribed to treat
• Dosages and precautionary measures
• Potential side-effects

A course of Doxycycline will be covered in many pet insurance policies — you can explore many of the top plans available today in seconds using our online comparison tool

What is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline was discovered midway through the 20th century and is one of the Tetracycline family of antibiotics. It has been proved to be both effective against a large number of diseases and safe to be given to humans, dogs, cats, horses, and other small mammals.

It works by preventing bacteria in different parts of the body from producing the proteins necessary for survival, essentially stopping them from replicating.

What is Doxycycline Used to Treat?

Doxycycline is what’s known as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. This means it’s effective against a wide range of bacterial diseases and infections.

Your vet might decide to prescribe a course of Doxycycline for dogs to treat one of the following conditions:

• Anaplasmosis
• Blood-borne infections
• Chlamydia
• Ehrlichiosis
• Heartworm Disease
• Infected wounds
• Leptospirosis
• Lyme disease
• Periodontal disease (teeth and gums)
• Respiratory infections
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Urinary tract infections

This list is not exhaustive and your vet might decide that Doxycycline can assist in the recovery of other health conditions. 

Doxycycline isn’t effective against viral or fungal infections. However, if your dog is suffering from one of these, your vet might still prescribe the drug if they believe your dog is vulnerable to a secondary bacterial infection.

Although humans will always be prescribed a Doxycycline product that’s been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the vast majority of Doxycycline products haven’t been approved for use when it comes to animals, including dogs.

In these instances, it’s common for a vet to still prescribe products containing Doxycycline for dogs, only with specific instructions in relation to your pet — this is called ‘off-label’ or ‘extra-label’ drug use. This is a common practice in veterinary medicine.

There’s a list of medications that the FDA prohibits from being prescribed off-label to animals and Doxycycline is not among them.

How Effective is Doxycycline?

The answer to this is usually ‘very’ — this is why it’s such a widely-prescribed treatment. It usually starts working in a couple of hours, although symptoms might take a few days to exhibit signs of decreasing.

If you do begin to observe your dog’s symptoms improving, it’s vital that you continue to finish the full course of Doxycycline.

Otherwise, there’s a risk of the infection re-emerging at a later date and also of your dog gaining resistance to antibiotics, which may prove especially dangerous for future illnesses.

Doxycycline Dosage for Dogs

After observation, your vet will decide on an exact dosage of Doxycycline to give to your dog. This will depend on a range of factors, including your dog’s weight and overall health, but a typical dose is 5-10mg per kg per day.

The length of the Doxycycline course your vet prescribes will also differ depending on your dog’s health and the condition from which they’re suffering. 

For moderate infections or bouts of gum disease, your dog might only have to take Doxycycline for five to seven days before they’re cured, but more severe infections or tick-borne diseases might require a duration of up to 45 days.

Medication containing Doxycycline typically comes in the form of a tablet, capsule or liquid. It can also be prescribed as a gel to treat periodontal diseases.

Your vet will always give you instructions on how to give Doxycycline for dogs. Often, parents will be told to administer the medication during mealtimes to lower the risk of stomach upset. This also prevents the drug from irritating or causing ulcers in the esophagus.

It’s often advised that the meal in question shouldn’t contain any dairy or iron ingredients, as these can interfere with the efficacy of Doxycycline.

Your vet might also recommend keeping your dog out of the sunshine during a course of Doxycycline, as the medicine can sometimes cause increased sensitivity to sunlight.

This puts your pet at risk of getting sunburnt, especially on parts of their body not covered by fur (including the nose, eyelids and ears). You might have to take your dog for walks in the early morning or late at night to avoid exposure.

What Happens if Your Dog Misses a Dose of Doxycycline?

If you miss a dose of Doxycycline, give the prescribed amount as soon as you remember. However, if it’s closer in time to the next dose, it’s better to hold off and wait until then. It’s important that you never give your dog a double or extra dose.

Although accidents do happen, parents need to stick as close as possible to the dosage instructions given to them by their vet. Too many missed doses increase the risk of your dog gaining antibiotic resistance.

Possible Doxycycline Side-Effects in Dogs

Although most dogs tolerate Doxycycline well, there’s a small chance they may suffer from side effects while taking Doxycycline.

These are often gastrointestinal in nature and include:

• Diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting

These can sometimes be a response to Doxycycline being administered incorrectly (i.e. not at mealtimes), but they can also be an indicator of a Doxycycline overdose. Contact your vet immediately if you spot these symptoms. 

Be sure to note the timing of any vomiting as if it comes soon after the administration of Doxycycline, this could mean your dog has unintentionally missed a dose.

In rare circumstances, Doxycycline can sometimes cause elevated liver enzymes or liver failure, which can be seen in the following symptoms:

• Bleeding
• Seizures
• Yellowing of the skin

Again, it’s important to contact your vet right away if you witness any of these changes in your dog.

Possible Drug Interactions

It’s important to inform your vet of all the medication your dog is taking, as there are other treatments that can negatively interact with Doxycycline. These include:

• Anticoagulant medication (such as Warfarin)
• Avermectins
• Bismuth compounds (such as Pepto-Bismol)
• Iron Supplements
• Kaolin or Pectin
• Multivitamins
• Other antibiotics (including Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Enrofloxacin or Aminoglycosides)
• Oral Antacids
• Phenobarbital
• Sucralfate

Many of these are vital for a dog’s health, so your vet will look at ways to accommodate both treatments — this could be by altering the dosage of one or scheduling Doxycycline and alternative medicines to be taken at different times of the day to ensure both are absorbed by the body.

Are there any dogs that shouldn’t be given Doxycycline?

If there’s even the smallest possibility that your dog could be pregnant, you need to notify your vet before they prescribe Doxycycline.

This is because Doxycycline and other Tetracycline antibiotics can sometimes cause limb deformities for puppies in the womb.

Your vet might decide that Doxycycline is still necessary for a pregnant dog to take, but they will have to weigh up the potential risks to the puppy’s health.

Similarly, vets are cautious when it comes to prescribing Doxycycline for puppies, as it has been known to interfere with bone growth and cause teeth discoloration in younger dogs.

If your puppy is still nursing, it’s also important to know that Doxycycline can be excreted through a mother’s milk.

Your vet will also consider whether to give a course of Doxycycline to a dog that has suffered an allergic reaction to antibiotics in the past.

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Frequently asked questions

Does my dog need a prescription to take doxycycline?

Yes. You can only obtain doxycycline for your dog with a prescription from your veterinarian.

How should I store doxycycline?

Store doxycycline at room temperature in a sealed container protected from light. Keep out of reach of children. Follow any storage instructions on the label closely.

What should I do if I forget to give my pet a dose of doxycycline?

Give the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it’s close to the scheduled time for the next dose, skip the missed dose before continuing with the dosing regimen. You should never give a double dose or extra doses of doxycycline to your pet.