My dog died after doxycycline for MRSA. Was it the medication?

Hello, I am so sorry for your loss. Please, either way don’t beat yourself up about what could or couldn’t have happened. Just learn from this and contact a vet just in case, anytime something is given/eaten that shouldn’t be. Even if all you get is piece of mind, you won’t have to wonder. I can not find that specific name in a formulary but if it was doxycycline, that should not have caused an issue. If it was doxydyl (deracoxib), that would have been a very high dose and could have caused some life threatening issues. Even then, it may have been unrelated to medication or even the treated infection so it is important not to blame yourselves for the unknown.

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I am so sorry for you loss. I know it is difficult to lose part of your family under any circumstances. I am not quite sure why you are wondering about doxycycline though. As you know, it is an antibiotic and is not indicated in treating lymphoma. Prednisone is the only treatment if chemotherapy cannot be instituted. Prednisone is not a curative medication, it only works to slow the growth of the cancer. Doxycycline does not do anything to treat cancer. If you can provide more information as to why you are referring to the doxycycline we can maybe help you better. Again, I am sorry for your loss. Best wishes.

The extra dose probably caused the vomiting. Doxycycline does cause vomiting as a side effect. If the vomiting resolves, then I would not be concerned. If the vomiting persists, contact your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m so sorry to hear about Misty. If the medication had caused the vomiting, I would have expected it to cause vomiting days ago when you started it. That leads me to believe it is less likely related to the medication and more likely related to something else. That being said, double check that you are giving the correct amount and do shake the bottle well each time you give it. Just like in people, there are dozens of reasons vomiting occurs including: infection, dietary indiscretion (eating that piece of plant or human food, or dead mouse), GI foreign body (eating that hair band which is now causing problems), toxin, non specific nausea, diet change or new treat, and the list goes on. If it was just the three times in a row, I would just withhold food and water for 2 hours, then reinteoduce water. If she holds that down well, offer a small bit of food 8-12 hours after the last episode of vomiting. Don’t repeat tonight’s dose of medication. I am concerned in the back of my mind that something else is going on since her appetite had started decreasing. Is it related to the disease we are treating with the doxycycline or some other problem? Certainly if the vomiting continues or she is not ready to eat in the next 24 hours, or you see any new signs, please head to your vet or an emergency vet for re-valuation. Best wishes to you and Misty!

Unfortunately, no, doxycycline is not a good choice for antibiotics in a nursing mamma dog. First, it does not have the spectrum of antibacterial activity needed for most mammary gland infections. This means that it may not clear up the infection entirely or be effective against the organisms causing the infection at all. Secondly, this is a drug that needs to be avoided in nursing moms because of potential side effects it can have in young puppies. This drug is not safe in neonates and can cause problems with the teeth in these young pups. I would recommend taking your momma dog to the vet to be examined and to get an antibiotic that is safe for her and the pups. In the meantime, until you can get to the vet, try using warm compresses and massage on the affected glands if your dog will tolerate it. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry that Haus is having this issue. I would not be concerned about the water consumption increase. I have not heard of anyone saying that has happened with a dog on doxycycline but every animal is an individual and can affect them differently. Either way, the extra water will not harm him. If the diarrhea persists for more than 36 hours then I think a vet visit would be warranted as that can be a side effect of the medication. Here is a link to an article about Doxycycline use in pets: ( https://www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/drug-library/library/doxycycline-vibramycin-for-dogs-and-cats/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Both doxycycline and prednisone can cause vomiting and diarrhea. I am not sure of the dose that your dog is on but maybe your vet could adjust the dose so he has less gastrointestinal problems. Feeding the medication with a meal can sometimes help with the gastrointestinal side effects so make sure to give with food. Your vet could also prescribe an anti-vomiting medication, probiotic, and GI protectant which may help, too. At this point, If he is just going to vomit the medication than it doesn't make sense to give it. You should wait and see if your vet can prescribe additional medications to help with the vomiting and diarrhea. If the vomiting and diarrhea has stopped, you could try to give one medication at a time with food and see how he does.