Medication: Doxycycline
Your dog has been prescribed the active ingredient doxycycline to treat a bacterial infection. Your veterinarian may have prescribed doxycycline to be given concurrently with a standard heartworm preventative (eg ivermectin, moxidectin, selamectin, milbemycin) to treat heartworm disease.
Doxycycline gel is also applied to the gums after dental procedures in adult dogs.
Key points:
• Antibiotic.
• Not recommended for use in pregnant dogs due to inhibition of fetal skeletal formation.
• May cause phototoxic eruptions on face or other areas of skin with thin haircoat.
• Do not use in puppies before completion of enamel formation.
• Do not give concurrently with aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, antacids, or dairy products.
• Give with a small amount of food to prevent esophageal injury.
• Dosage: typically, the antimicrobial dosage of doxycycline for dogs is 5-10 mg/kg orally once or twice daily. When used as a treatment for heartworm disease in dogs, doxycycline is given at 10 mg/kg orally twice daily for 4 weeks along with a dose of standard heartworm preventative once monthly. Your veterinarian may also apply a doxycycline gel to your adult dog’s gums following dental procedures.
This information sheet is designed to help answer commonly asked questions and help you give the medication safely and effectively to your pet. It does not contain all available information for this medication. If you have other questions or need more information, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.Always follow the dosing instructions provided by your veterinarian.