Itching after Doxycycline in cats

The FDA has received 21 reports of itching in cats after Doxycycline. That is 8.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines.

21Reports

76%Marked serious

14%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

0 0.0%

1–2 days

3 20%

3–7 days

3 20%

1–4 weeks

3 20%

Over a month

6 40%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 14%

Still unwell when reported

10 48%

Died

1 4.8%

Euthanised

3 14%

Not known

4 19%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

7 33%

Hair loss

7 33%

Loss of appetite

6 29%

Blood problems

5 24%

Skin rash or irritation

5 24%

Skin redness

4 19%

Death

4 19%

Behaviour change

4 19%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Doxycycline treats bacterial and tick-borne infections.

Questions owners ask

Can Doxycycline cause itching in cats?: 21 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 10 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Itching with similar medicines

Itching after Cefovecin (Convenia) 563 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Itching after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 112 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Itching after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 85 reports · 5.4% of its reports
Itching after Amoxicillin 25 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Itching after Metronidazole 20 reports · 5.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Doxycycline in cats · Medicines most reported with itching