Doxycycline (Generic) Antibiotic Capsules for Pets

Why has my veterinarian prescribed Doxycycline Capsules?

Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline antibiotic prescribed to treat infections. Your veterinarian has prescribed this medicine to treat your pet’s bacterial infection.

How do I give this Doxycycline Capsules?

First, READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.

To prevent throat irritation, be sure to give cats a teaspoonful of water after each tablet or capsule.

Administer Doxycycline as directed by your veterinarian.

If using liquid Doxycycline, shake the bottle well before carefully measuring the dose.

Give this medication for as long as your veterinarian prescribes, even if it seems your pet is feeling better. This will help to ensure the infection is completely cleared up.

This medication may be given with meals if your pet appears to have an upset stomach.

DO NOT give your pet more medicine than directed.

DO NOT give your pet medicine more often than prescribed.

Try not to miss giving any doses.

If I miss a dose, what do I do?

If you miss a dose, give it to your pet as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, then continue with the regular dosing schedule. Do not give your pet two doses at once.

How do I store Doxycycline Capsules?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children.

Store capsules and tablets at room temperature in a dry, cool place. Keep this medication away from heat and direct sunlight.

Do not store this medicine in damp places, in the bathroom, or near the kitchen sink. This medication can break down when exposed to moisture or heat.

Discard any unused liquid after the medicine has expired.

What are the potential side effects of Doxycycline Capsules?

While you are giving your pets Doxycycline, keep them out of the direct sunlight. This medication may cause skin eruptions including pustules and blisters with exposure to sunlight.

Doxycycline may cause vomiting and diarrhea. If stomach upset occurs, try giving the medication with food. These symptoms may go away during treatment. If they continue, contact your veterinarian.

Other side effects may occur. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.

What about possible drug interactions?

Be sure to tell your veterinarian if your pet is getting any other medications.

It’s not uncommon for your veterinarian to prescribe two different medications, which may cause a drug interaction to occur. If this happens, your veterinarian may change the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.

The following drugs may interact with Doxycycline: barbiturates; carbamazepine; sodium bicarbonate; antacid preparations containing aluminum, calcium, iron or magnesium; anti-diarrheal compounds containing kaolin and pectin or bismuth; and laxatives.

Give your pet Doxycycline 1-2 hours before or after administering antacids, anti-diarrheal compounds or laxatives.

Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.

Doxycycline (Generic) Capsules for Pets (Rx)

Trade Names:

Doryx®

Doxirobe® Gel

Vibramycin

General Description:

Doxycycline is an oral tetracycline antibiotic used in dogs and cats to treat many bacterial infections, especially those carried by ticks. To reduce stomach upset, give doxycycline with a meal. Doxycycline is available as tablets, capsules, oral suspension or as an injection. A gel formula is also used after some dental procedures.

What is this drug?

• A tetracycline antibiotic
• Given by mouth or as a dental preparation

Reasons for prescribing:

• Useful to treat a variety of bacterial infections in dogs and cats including leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and many diseases carried by ticks
• Gel formulation is used in dogs after dental surgery to fight bacteria causing periodontal disease

What dogs/cats should not take this medication?

• Pets known to have had an allergic reaction to doxycycline or other antibiotics
• Use with caution in pregnant females
• Nursing females and young animals

Directions:

For liquids, shake well before accurately measuring the dose.

Give with food to reduce the incidence of vomiting.

When pilling cats, ensure that the medication is followed by at least a teaspoon of water or a favorite liquid (tuna water). Do not 'dry-pill'.

Give doxycycline 1-2 hours before or after any supplements or medications containing aluminum, calcium, magnesium or zinc.

Give doxycycline 3 hours before or 2 hours after any oral iron supplements or medications.

Give medication as directed by your veterinarian. This medication is usually given once or twice daily .

Read and follow the label carefully.

Give the exact amount prescribed and only as often as directed. Missed doses reduce the effectiveness of therapy.

Finish the entire course of treatment.

Ideally, give the medication at the same time daily.

What if dose is missed?

If a dose is missed, give it as soon as you can. If it is time already for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at the same time.

What to tell/ask veterinarian before giving medication?

Talk to your veterinarian about:

• When will your pet need to be rechecked
• What tests may need to be performed prior to and during treatment with this drug
• Risks and benefits of using this drug

Tell your veterinarian about:

• If your pet has experienced side-effects on other drugs/products
• If your pet has experienced digestive upset now or ever
• If your pet has experienced liver disease now or ever
• If your pet has experienced any other medical problems or allergies now or ever
• All medicines and supplements that you are giving your pet or plan to give your pet, including those you can get without a prescription. Your veterinarian may want to check that all of your pet's medicines can be given together.
• If your pet is pregnant or nursing or if you plan to breed your pet

Storage and Warnings:

Store capsules and tablets in tight, light resistant, childproof containers in a dry place at room temperature away from heat and direct sunlight.

After reconstitution, the oral suspension is stable for 14 days at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

Keep this and all medication out of reach of children and pets. Call your physician immediately if you accidentally take this product.

Pet owners allergic to doxycycline and/or other tetracycline antibiotics should use caution when handling this drug.

Potential side effects:

• Decrease in appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian if pet experiences severe vomiting or diarrhea.
• Bone and teeth abnormalities in young animals are less likely with doxycycline than other tetracyclines
• Damage to esophagus in cats from 'dry-pilling'. Ensure cat eats or drinks after receiving capsule or tablet form
• Superinfections have occurred in long-term tetracycline therapy
• Skin sensitivities (pustules or blisters on skin exposed to sun). Use caution when exposing pet to sunlight.
• Reported cases in human medicine of liver conditions and blood abnormalities
• It is important to stop therapy and contact your veterinarian immediately if you think you pet has a medical problem or side effect from this product's therapy

Can this drug be given with other drugs?

• Yes, but possible interactions may occur with aminogylcosides, barbiturates, bismuth, carbamezine, cephalosporins, kaolin, digoxin, insulin, laxatives, medications/supplements containing aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium and/or zinc, oral antacids, oral sodium bicarbonate, pectin, penicillins, theophylline, and warfarin.
• If your pet experiences any unusual reactions when taking multiple medications, contact your veterinarian

Overdosing?

Contact your veterinarian immediately if pet eats more than the prescribed amount.

What else should I know?

Notify your veterinarian if your animal's condition does not improve or worsens despite this treatment.

Dogs prescribed Doxirobe Oral Gel should not have teeth brushed for 2 weeks following application.

As with all prescribed medicines, doxycycline should only be given to the dog/cat for which it was prescribed. It should be given only for the condition for which it was prescribed.

This is just a summary of information about doxycycline. If you have any questions or concerns about doxycycline or for the condition it was prescribed, contact your veterinarian.