Doxycycline for Dogs

Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg

Doxycycline is dosed at 5 mg/kg IV, PO q12h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.436, Doxycycline monograph spanning p.433-437; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, Doxycycline, Small Animal Dosage, printed p.276 (corpus PDF p.304): "Dogs and Cats • 5 mg/kg q12h PO or IV. 10 mg/kg q24h PO. • Rickettsia (dogs): 5 mg/kg q12h. • […]" Corroborated: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), printed p.436 (corpus PDF p.463), whose only canine IV doxycycline figure is 5 mg/kg every 12 hours, and which states "Doxycycline IV is not recommended unless GI adverse effects prevent PO administration and other […]" [CEILING REDUCED 2026-08-12, two readers — every printed canine 10 mg/kg tick-borne figure is oral and at a 24-hour interval.]. Doxycycline is used in dogs for Severe tick-borne disease, hospitalized patients, Tick-borne diseases, respiratory infections, Lyme, Leptospirosis (elimination phase), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Routes documented in dogs: IV, PO, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 7 cited dose rules for Doxycycline in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Vibramycin

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV, PO	5 mg/kg	q12h	Until oral feasible	Severe tick-borne disease, hospitalized patients	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.436, Doxycycline monograph spanning p.433-437; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, Doxycycline, Small Animal Dosage, printed p.276 (corpus PDF p.304): "Dogs and Cats • 5 mg/kg q12h PO or IV. 10 mg/kg q24h PO. • Rickettsia (dogs): 5 mg/kg q12h. • […]" Corroborated: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), printed p.436 (corpus PDF p.463), whose only canine IV doxycycline figure is 5 mg/kg every 12 hours, and which states "Doxycycline IV is not recommended unless GI adverse effects prevent PO administration and other […]" [CEILING REDUCED 2026-08-12, two readers — every printed canine 10 mg/kg tick-borne figure is oral and at a 24-hour interval.]
PO	5–10 mg/kg	q12-24h	14-28 days for tick-borne diseases	Tick-borne diseases, respiratory infections, Lyme	Strong	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.463 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.436, Doxycycline monograph spanning p.433-437; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
10	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.157	10 mg/kg p.o. q24h with food.
5	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.304	• 5 mg/kg q12h PO or IV. 10 mg/kg q24h PO.
10	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.304	• Heartworm treatment (dogs): 10 mg/kg q12h, PO, administered for 28 days prior
5	—

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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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Doxycycline for Dogs?

Doxycycline dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV, PO 5 mg/kg q12h; PO 5–10 mg/kg q12-24h; PO 5 mg/kg q12h; PO 5–10 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Doxycycline administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Doxycycline in dogs: IV, PO, PO.

How long is Doxycycline given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Doxycycline in dogs include: Until oral feasible; 14-28 days for tick-borne diseases; 14 days minimum; 14-21 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Doxycycline treat in Dogs?

Doxycycline is indicated in dogs for: Severe tick-borne disease, hospitalized patients, Tick-borne diseases, respiratory infections, Lyme, Leptospirosis (elimination phase), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRD), Heartworm treatment adjunct (slow kill).

What are the side effects of Doxycycline in Dogs?

These are general warnings for Doxycycline across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).

Other Antibiotic drugs with dog dosing

Amikacin Amoxicillin Amoxicillin Injectable Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Ampicillin Azithromycin Bacitracin Carbenicillin Cefaclor Cefadroxil Cefazolin Cefdinir

Doxycycline dosing in other species

African Clawed Frogs African Grey Parrots African Pygmy Hedgehogs Axolotls Ball Pythons Bearded Dragons Blue-and-Gold Macaws Canaries

See all species for Doxycycline See all drugs for Dogs

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 dogs — 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.