A common dosing guideline is 5 - 10 mg/kg body weight once daily, usually lasting for one to two weeks ― but please follow the recommendation of your veterinarian.
Dosage of Doxycycline for Dogs
What is this? For general infections, doxycycline is given 3-5 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 7-14 days.
Overdose. Oral overdose of doxycycline in most instances will cause pronounced GI distress. If you suspect your pet or another animal was overdosed accidentally or has eaten this medication inadvertently, contact your veterinarian or the A.S.P.C.A.'s Animal Poison Control Center at 888.426. 4435.
The exact dose and length of treatment depend on the underlying condition. For example, for dogs with gum disease and infection, Doxycycline use is limited to 5 to 7 days. However, the treatment may last for 30 or 45 days in dogs with respiratory infections or tick-borne diseases.
This medication will take effect quickly, in about 1 to 2 hours, however, visible effects may take a few days to be recognized.
Your doctor will usually review you after 4 to 6 weeks to check how well the medicine is working. If you're taking doxycycline for any other infection, tell your doctor if you do not start feeling better after 3 days. Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse.
Doxycycline starts working in as little as 2 hours after taking it. But depending on the infection you have, it may take up to 24 to 48 hours (1 to 2 days) to start seeing its effects. It typically takes 1 to 2 weeks for doxycycline to fully clear an infection, but some infections can take as long as 2 months.
Conversely, using antibiotics for prolonged periods of time, even at the proper dosage, can cause problems such as fungal infection or toxicity. Always follow the label or a veterinarian's instructions as to length of treatment.
Doxycycline Dosage for Dogs
Changing your dog's medication can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is dangerous for your dog and may also result in a longer recovery time. Do not stop giving the medication if your dog's condition improves—always finish all medication prescribed.
Any drug can cause hepatic damage, but some are famous for affecting the liver: Doxycycline occasionally causes increased ALT and even icterus. Although this is not a commonly recognized problem, we use so much doxycycline for suspected rickettsial diseases that it is very important to recognize the possibility.
Dosing instructions
A typical dosage used by many vets is 5 to 10mg per pound. This means a 50-pound dog would need to take 500mg twice a day. This is usually given for 10 to 14 days. Sometimes this may even be given longer.
Doxycycline is used in dogs to treat susceptible bacterial infections and infections caused by Rickettsia, Canine ehrlichiosis (anaplasmosis), Toxoplasma, Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Leptospirosis and Neorickettsia helminthoeca (salmon poisoning).
“Doxycycline is prescribed to dogs for the treatment of bacterial infections susceptible to it like tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,” Dr.
Doxycycline is the preferred empiric treatment for canine and feline upper respiratory tract infections owing to its probable effectiveness against primary bacterial pathogens such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma species, and C felis, as well as numerous secondary bacterial pathogens.
Remember, most common side effects of doxycycline will get better soon after you stop taking it: Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea should get better within a few days of stopping doxycycline. Sun sensitivity can last for about 10-14 days after you stop taking it.
It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don't take it at all: Your infection will likely not go away. If you're taking it for malaria prevention, you won't be protected against certain infections. This may be fatal.
Important. Carry on taking doxycycline until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back, or you may no longer be protected against malaria.
Different diseases or health problems require different lengths of antibiotics to kill or control the growth of bacteria. For example, a superficial infected wound may only require a week of medication, but a complicated lung infection may require months of treatment.
Your dog's condition should improve within a few days. However, be sure to give your dog the full course of antibiotics according to your veterinarian's instructions to prevent reinfection and antibiotic resistance.
Metronidazole. Metronidazole is both an antibiotic and an antiprotozoal. It's one of the more powerful medicines on the market, and is used to treat a variety of ailments, including: - Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Take the medicine every day during your trip and continue taking it for 4 weeks after you return. However, do not use the medicine for longer than 4 months.
To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days.
Doxycycline belongs to the class of medicines known as tetracycline antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.