What is Doxycycline used for?

Doxycycline is indicated for: Anaplasmosis, atypical respiratory, atypicals, Avian chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci infection), Bacterial infections, Bartonella (cat scratch disease), Bordetella bronchiseptica, Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRD), Chlamydia caviae (conjunctivitis), Chlamydophila, Chlamydophila psittaci (non-compliant patients), Chlamydophila psittaci (psittacosis), CRD chronic suppression, Feline chronic gingivostomatitis adjunct, Feline stomatitis adjunct, Heartworm treatment adjunct (slow kill), Hemoplasma (Mycoplasma haemofelis), hospitalized patients, intracellular infections, Lawsonia intracellularis, Leptospirosis (elimination phase), Lyme, Lyme disease, Mycoplasma, Pasteurella, Pasteurella multocida, respiratory, Respiratory infections, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Severe tick-borne disease, snuffles, Tick-borne diseases, Tyzzer disease, Upper respiratory infections.

Which species have cited Doxycycline dosing data?

Doxycycline dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 17 species: African Grey Parrot, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Cattle (Beef/Dairy), Chinchilla, Cockatiel, Dog (Domestic), Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Horse (Equine), Lovebird, Pet Rat, Rabbit (Domestic), Umbrella Cockatoo.

Is Doxycycline a controlled substance?

Doxycycline is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

How does Doxycycline work?

Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-tRNA attachment.

Doxycycline

US brand names:Vibramycin

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Doxycycline is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q48h in ball pythons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

POIV

Indications

Anaplasmosisatypical respiratoryatypicalsAvian chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci infection)Bacterial infectionsBartonella (cat scratch disease)

Side effects & warnings

Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).

Evidence levels across 36 dose rules

Moderate×19Extrapolated×3Strong×11Weak×3

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 24 published sources

· Bonenberger T. Typical cat bite abscess, or not: chronic draining tracts & nodules. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2009. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed | Corroborated 2026-07-30: Mileva R, et al. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021;10:310. doi:10.3390/antibiotics10030310 PMID:33802956 — rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), doxycycline 5 mg/kg PO.
· Carrade DD, Foley JE, Borjesson DL, Sykes JE. Canine granulocytic anaplasmosis: a review. J Vet Intern Med. 2009;23:1129-1141. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0384.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).
· Divers TJ, Gardner RB, Madigan JE, et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32:617-632. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.464 (2026-08-01).
· ExoticRx 2026 (chinchilla dosing guide); Carpenter 6e

Sample dosing (2 of 36 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 17 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q12h	Strong	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).
Dog (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q12h	Strong	Nelson C, McCall JW, Jones S, Moorhead AR. American Heartworm Society Current Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs. American Heartworm Society website; https://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/american-heartworm-society-guidelines. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.07.008 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).

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· Gibbons PM, Klaphake E, Carpenter JW. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, ed. Exotic Animal Formulary. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2013:83-182. // 189. Divers SJ. Merck Veterinary Manual online - Antimicrobial drugs used in reptiles; 2017 (cited for the same 5-10 mg/kg q24h PO figure at Mader p.878, Table 72.1) — Verified against Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1402 (2026-08-01).

· Gibbons PM, Klaphake E, Carpenter JW. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, ed. Exotic Animal Formulary. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2013:83-182. — Verified against Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1402 (2026-08-01).

· Greene C, Hartmannn K, Calpin J. Appendix 8: antimicrobial drug formulary. In: Greene C, ed. Infectious Disease of the Dog and Cat. Elsevier; 2006:1186-1333. doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-2406-4.50080-6 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).

· Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.411 (2026-08-01).

· Lappin M. Protozoal and miscellaneous infections. In: Ettinger S, Feldman E, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. Vol 1. WB Saunders; 2000:408-417. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).

· Lappin MR, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of respiratory tract disease in dogs and cats: Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31:279-294. doi:10.1111/jvim.14627 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).

· Lewis SR, Zimmerman K, Dascanio JJ, Pleasant RS, Witonsky SG. Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis: a case report and review. J Equine Vet Sci. 2009;29:160-166. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2009.01.002 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.464 (2026-08-01).

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry Q, OrcuttC, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01).

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).

· Nelson C, McCall JW, Jones S, Moorhead AR. American Heartworm Society Current Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs. American Heartworm Society website; https://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/american-heartworm-society-guidelines. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.07.008 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01).

· Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11-41. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.014 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.412 (2026-08-01).

· Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Diaz-Figueroa O, Tully T Jr., et al. Evaluating 21-day doxycycline and azithromycin treatments for experimental Chlamydophila psittaci infection in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). J Avian Med Surg. 2010;24:35-45. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.412 (2026-08-01).

Doxycycline

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Doxycycline dosing data (36 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 36 dose rules

Backed by 24 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 36 cited rules)

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Doxycycline

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Doxycycline dosing data (36 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 36 dose rules

Backed by 24 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 36 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Articles mentioning Doxycycline

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