Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat infections like Lyme disease, chlamydia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and bacterial infections caused by susceptible organisms.
Doxycycline requires a prescription from your veterinarian.For: Cats and Dogs
Treats Lyme disease, chlamydia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
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Also can treat urinary tract infections
How it works:
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that treats bacterial infections. It works by interrupting the production of proteins by bacteria. It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria.
Cautions:
Do not give doxycycline to pregnant or nursing animals. Do not give multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within two hours before or after giving doxycycline. These products can reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline.
More Information:
Brand Name Doryx (Pfizer), Vibramycin (Pfizer)
Generic Name Doxycycline
What is the most important information I should know about Doxycycline: Do not give doxycycline to a pregnant animal as it could cause harm to the offspring. Doxycycline should not be given to nursing animals since this medication may cause slowing of bone growth and discoloration of teeth. Do not give multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after giving doxycycline. These products can reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline. Doxycycline may make a pet's skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may occur. Throw away any unused doxycycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not give any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome that can result in damage to the kidneys.
What is Doxycycline: Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used to fight bacterial infections in dogs and cats. Doxycycline is available by prescription as 100mg tablets and 100mg capsules. The usual dose of doxycycline in dogs is 2-5mg/pound every 12 to 24 hours. The usual dose of doxycycline in cats is 2mg/pound every 12 hours. When giving the medication to a cat, follow the dose with a moist treat. Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as Lyme disease, chlamydia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others. Doxycycline may be used for purposes other than those listed in this guide.
What should I discuss with my veterinarian before giving Doxycycline to my pet: Tell your veterinarian if your pet is allergic to doxycycline or to similar medicines such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin), or tetracycline (Sumycin, Panmycin). Tell your veterinarian if your pet has liver or kidney disease. Tell your veterinarian if your pet is pregnant, lactating, or if you plan to breed your pet. Do not give doxycycline to a pregnant animal as it could cause harm to the offspring. Doxycycline should not be given to nursing animals since this medication may cause slowing of bone growth and discoloration of teeth.
How should Doxycycline be given: Give this medication exactly as directed by your veterinarian. Do not give the medication in larger amounts or give for longer than recommended by your veterinarian. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Allow plenty of drinking water for your pet. Doxycycline may be given with or without food. Do not give this medication with milk or dairy products unless your veterinarian has told you to do so. Dairy products reduce the absorption of doxycycline. Give this medication for the entire length prescribed by your veterinarian. Symptoms may improve before the infection is completely treated. If your pet needs surgery tell your veterinarian that your pet is being given doxycycline. Throw away any unused doxycycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not give any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome that can result in damage to the kidneys. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose: Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not give a double dose of the medication.
What happens if I overdose the pet: Seek emergency veterinary medical attention if you think your pet has been given too much of this medicine. Symptoms of doxycycline overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What should I avoid while giving Doxycycline: Antibiotic medications can cause diarrhea. If your pet develops diarrhea that is watery, or has blood in it, call your veterinarian. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless told to do so by your veterinarian. Doxycycline may make your pet's skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may occur. Do not give multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after giving doxycycline.
What are the possible side effects of Doxycycline: If any of the following serious side effects occur, stop giving doxycycline and seek emergency veterinary medical attention: an allergic reaction (hives; difficulty breathing; or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat); severe headache; dizziness or blurred vision; fever; hair loss; bull's-eye lesions; vesicles (small bubble of liquid in a cell) around the mouth, ears, or groin; urinating less than normal or not at all; dark colored urine; confusion or weakness; loss of appetite; or jaundice. Continue giving doxycycline and talk to your veterinarian if any of these less serious side effects occur: mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Side effects other than those listed in this guide may also occur. Talk to your veterinarian about any side effect that is unusual or seems especially bothersome to your pet.
What other drugs will affect Doxycycline: Tell your veterinarian if your pet is being given an antacid (Milk of Magnesia or Maalox), bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, or over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements, warfarin (Coumadin), a penicillin antibiotic (Amoxil, Trimox, Pen VK, dicloxacillin (Dynapen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), or others. There may be other medications that are not listed that can affect doxycycline. Tell your veterinarian about prescription and over-the-counter medications that are being given to your pet. This includes vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information: Your pharmacist has information written for health professionals that you may read.
Call your veterinarian for medical advice about any side effects to your pet. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Directions:
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Doxycycline, a prescription medication, is a tetracycline antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial infections such as Lyme disease, chlamydia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other bacterial infections in dogs and cats.
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Give doxycycline for the entire length of time prescribed by your veterinarian, even though symptoms may improve before the infection is completely treated.
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Do not give doxycycline to pregnant or nursing animals.
Tip: Throw away any unused doxycycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not give doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome that can result in damage to the kidneys.
Dosage:
Pet
Weight
Dosage
Dogs:
All weights
The usual dose is 2mg-5mg/lb of pet’s weight every 12-24 hours. Doxycycline can be given with or without food. Allow plenty of drinking water for your pet. Do not give this medication with milk or dairy products unless your veterinarian has told you to do so. Dairy products reduce the absorption of doxycycline.
Cats:
All weights
The usual dose is 2mg/lb of pet’s weight every 12 hours. Doxycycline can be given with or without food. Follow the dose with a moist treat. Allow plenty of drinking water for your pet. Do not give this medication with milk or dairy products unless your veterinarian has told you to do so. Dairy products reduce the absorption of doxycycline.
Horses:
Storage: Store this product at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
I just found out that my 12 year old Akita has lyme disease. I noticed that he was not eating and was losing a lot of strength and stability in his back legs. I had the blood test done and it came back positive for lyme. I just gave him his second dose of Doxycycline today so I am hoping that he will be feeling better really soon. I will update in a few days.
My dog was on doxy for 3 days 20mg 2x a day and she's 60 pounds . she is drinking like crazy.. she has been off for 3 days and she is still urinating a lot and drinking alot. we are thinking its still the doxy.. how long does it stay in their systems.. she had an intestinal blockage that we hope has cleared so they took her off.. thats why the short time period..
Discovered last Thursday evening my dog was very ill (12 yr old Collie) and took him to the vet the next morning. Test were run but nothing of significance pointed in any direction...my vet suggested it could be a tick borne infection and recommended a special blood test ($100). We said yes and while we were waiting for results he put him on the Doxycycline. He started getting better (slowly) the next day and on Monday we found out it was RM Spotted fever. We think he will survive and he is getting stronger every day.
DOXYCYCLINE PRODUCT REVIEW: If there is one antibiotic that is indispensable in small animal conventional veterinary medical practice, it is doxycycline. With the increasing number and prevalence of various tick born diseases in dogs across many areas of the country , and the uncovering of more infectious diseases in cats that are potentially transferred to humans via bite or cat scratch such as bartonella , this is one antibiotic that I often reach for in veterinary practice. Unfortunately, testing for many of these diseases is not only controversial in terms of accuracy of interpretation of lab tests for these various conditions admittedly by even the greatest minds in veterinary medicine, but also highly expensive for clients as well. In these tough economic times this can indeed be a problem for both clients and veterinarians trying to practice evidence based medicine and in making an accurate diagnosis in daily veterinary practice. . When I suspect these diseases as possibilities in my canine or feline patients, especially if there is a history of fleas, ticks or bite wounds, I always offer the testing, however this is not always possible due to the increased cost of running these tests that are so hard to interpret. I therefore dont see a problem if symptoms of lethargy, fever, lameness/swollen joints, blood disorders like anemia or low platelet counts are present in our pets to simply prescribe a 3-4 week course of this broad acting antibiotic. That is the typical course of treatment anyway for all of these conditions, and in fact there is no current hard universally accepted evidence that longer courses of this antibiotic are needed or more effective. . For example, a diagnosis of lyme disease is impossible to make from a positive blood test alone, which only measures exposure at one point in a pet's life, and not necessarily current/active infection. In fact, most dogs who are exposed to lyme disease and "test" positive, get over the disease on their own, or never show any symptoms!!!!. It is actual the clinical symptoms present, and response to treatment with an appropriate antibiotic like doxycycline that is equally if not more important than expensive diagnostic testing. I therefore dont have a problem prescribing this drug in those situations where clients cant afford expensive testing, and I suspect one of these diseases based on the clinical symptoms of the patient. While we always try and give a client a definitive diagnosis, given the limitations/controversies and expense of testing, I dont think it is unfair for a client to ask a vet to forego these blood tests and simply treat the pet for 3-4 weeks with doxycycline, if these tests are not affordable for the client. And for those concerned about kidney complications of lyme exposure, recent findings show that researchers have yet to find any lyme bacterial organisms in the kidneys of lyme positive dogs, shifting current thought away from the lyme bacteria as the cause of the problem, but the patient's overactive immune response on rare cases in leading to this occasional fatal complication of lyme exposure.. In these cases, doxycycline has not helped these kidney patients anyway, and researchers are now looking at the possibility of using immune suppressive drugs to treat patients sick with this less common but fatal kidney syndrome of lyme exposure. The verdict is still out on this latter immune suppressive approach, but it is clear that doxycycline does not appear to help those dogs affected with kidney problems from lyme exposure, nor do prolonged months of antibiotic therapy seem to make any evidence based difference in outcome or survival. . The take home point of all of this, is that testing is not as critical as the presence of symptoms of lyme disease and possible history of tick exposure described above, and that a 3-4 week course of doxycycline can often save clients lots of money in testing if not affordable, however this is a prescription drug that must be written by your veterinarian. I have also found this drug tremendously beneficial in treating various respiratory infections and infectious coughs of both dogs and cats covering bacteria like mycoplasma and bordatella, which are not often covered by other antibiotics, as well as in oral infections in those pets afflicted with periodontal disease. . The anti inflammatory effect of this drug also is another side benefit of this drug, other than its antibiotic effect. The major drawbacks I have seen is the occasional overgrowth of yeast and/or bad bacteria in the digestive tract or skin in pets treated for prolonged periods. This side effect can be minimized by the concomitant use of an excellent probiotic like naturevet enzymes from 1800petmeds. Also, especially in cats, this drug is best followed with a syringe or teaspoon of water, as it can occasionally get stuck in the throat or esophagus of treated pets leading to severe ulceration and inflammation. I have not seen the teeth staining in younger animals that is more common when tetracycline is used, however it is probably best to wait until the pet is at least 4 or 5 months of age to use this wonderful antibiotic. However my overall rating of this prescription antibiotic from your vet, and available at 1800petmeds with a written prescription is a 5 with an efficacy of a 4 and ease of use a 4.
Doxycycline, a prescription medication, is a tetracycline antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial infections. You will need a prescription for this or any other antibiotic to treat your Pit bull. We recommend consulting your veterinarian on which antibiotic is best to treat her wounds. We hope she recovers very soon.
Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment can last from 1 to 4 weeks or longer. However, exactly how long a pet needs to stay on doxycycline when treating Lyme disease is strictly up to the veterinarian treating the pet.
My dog has a few leftover doxy pills and my cat has had an upper respitory infection for a couple of weeks. Is it okay to give my cat a few of these pills? I am a student and can't afford another vet bill. Especially since my dog's last vet bill was over $300 to determine she has Lyme's. The pills are 100 mg and I read somewhere that animals should have 2mg per pound of weight. So that would mean 16 mg, correct? Can I cut these pills into tiny pieces? I know seems like it could be a bit difficult. But is it okay? I want my cat healthy. I would also like to add that my cat's symptoms are, sneezing A LOT, icky nose, and sounds a bit congested.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but the worst mistake you could make would be to give your cat medication that was prescribed for your dog. This is a dangerous practice on so many levels but ultimately the bottom line is you would do more harm than good. As to the dose, it would be absolutely impossible for you to take a 100mg tablet and be able to cut it into a piece that would contain 16 mg. There is absolutely no way. If you believe your cat is that sick that antibiotic is required you have no choice but to see a veterinarian.
Your veterinarian would determine the actual dose to use based on the infection being treated and the severity of the infection. However, a typical dose for a 17 lb dog might be 50mg every 12 to 24 hours.
My dog is taking doxy and clavamox twice a day every 12 hours for the next 7 days. Her first dose was around 930am. Would it be harmful to give her the next dose at 830pm tonight instead at 930pm? I have to be at work by 830am tomorrow and would like her medication schedule to fit, but I don't want to put her at harm. She's 33lbs and a little over a year old.
If it's more convenient for you to schedule the doses at 8 AM and 8 PM or 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM go ahead. As to giving the dose 11 hours apart it will not harm the pet.
This information sheet is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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