Doxycycline for Dog
Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Doxycycline is used in dog for Severe tick-borne disease, hospitalized patients, Tick-borne diseases, respiratory infections, Lyme, Leptospirosis (elimination phase), Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRD). Routes documented in dog: IV, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 7 cited dose rules for Doxycycline in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Vibramycin
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | Until oral feasible | Severe tick-borne disease, hospitalized patients | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12-24h | 14-28 days for tick-borne diseases | Tick-borne diseases, respiratory infections, Lyme | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 5 mg/kg | q12h | 14 days minimum | Leptospirosis (elimination phase) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | 10-14 days | Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRD) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | 14-21 days | Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q12h | 4 weeks before melarsomine; 30 days concurrent with ivermectin | Heartworm treatment adjunct (slow kill) | Strong | American Heartworm Society Guidelines |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | 14-28 days | Anaplasmosis | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-tRNA attachment.
Side effects & warnings
Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Antibiotic drugs with dog dosing
Doxycycline dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Doxycycline pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dog — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.