Is extended doxycycline treatment safe for my dog with Lyme?

Although it's not common, lyme disease can progress to severe kidney disease, which can be difficult to treat and may lead to the death of the dog. Other symptoms of lyme disease include fever, lameness, swollen joints, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, and anorexia. It can be successfully treated with doxycycline.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Cosmo. I'm sorry he has Lyme disease. The most common side effects of doxycycline HYC include vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite. More serious side effects include liver failure characterized by a yellowing of the skin, as well as seizures, bleeding, behavior changes, trouble swallowing, or an upset stomach when doxycycline has not been just given. Increased thirst is not a side effect of this medication, but some dogs with Lyme disease may develop kidney disease. One of the signs of kidney disease is increased thirst. I would not stop the medication, and I would give his vet a call immediately. It may be best you bring him into the vet immediately. Best of luck.

If your veterinarian recommends Doxycycline for Samson I would go ahead and give it. The benefit of the medication most likely outweighs any risk that it may have on Sampson. Doxycycline does not typically affect the growth but can affect tooth enamel when given to very young puppies. Since Sampson is 10 months old he shouldn’t have this issue at all. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry Thor has Lyme disease! The antibiotics can cause a loss of appetite as a side effect, so that could be why his appetite comes and goes. Lyme disease does cause painful and swollen joints, and that may explain why he doesn't want to get up and walks very stiffly. Difficulty breathing can also be part of the course of the disease. The normal course of treatment with antibiotics for Lyme disease is 30 days, but sometime treatment may go on longer. I would give your vet a call in the morning to let them know you haven't seen any improvement in Thor, and they can advise you if they want you to bring him in for a health check.

Hello, sorry to hear about Bruno. Treatment for babesia may be long, up to 4-6 weeks at times. Bruno may need to be on this medication for this time or longer depending on what your veterinarian sees when Bruno goes in for his recheck. Additionally, Bruno may need more than one medication for this treatment. Hope this helps and 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.

Unfortunately doxycycline suspension should be stored at room temperature and not be refrigerated. There is a chance that it has lost its effectiveness after being stored in the fridge, so I suggest you contact your vet tomorrow for a new prescription.