Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Doxycycline is dosed at 10 mg/kg PO q12h in horses, per 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).. Doxycycline is used in horses for Lyme disease, Lawsonia intracellularis, respiratory, Lyme disease, intracellular infections. Routes documented in horses: PO. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Doxycycline in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vibramycin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q12h | 14-30 days for Lyme; 21 for Lawsonia | Lyme disease, Lawsonia intracellularis, respiratory | Moderate | 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). |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q12h | 14-30 days | Lyme disease, intracellular infections | Strong | 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). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-tRNA attachment.
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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Doxycycline dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: PO 10 mg/kg q12h; PO 10 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Doxycycline in horses: PO.
Cited course lengths for Doxycycline in horses include: 14-30 days for Lyme; 21 for Lawsonia; 14-30 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Doxycycline is indicated in horses for: Lyme disease, Lawsonia intracellularis, respiratory, Lyme disease, intracellular infections.
These are general warnings for Doxycycline across species; consult the horse 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).
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 horses — 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.