Elevated creatine-kinase (ck) after Doxycycline in dogs

20 reports to the FDA describe elevated creatine-kinase (ck) in dogs given Doxycycline. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

20Reports

80%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

50%Died or euthanised

35 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

1 6.3%

1–2 days

1 6.3%

3–7 days

2 13%

1–4 weeks

4 25%

Over a month

8 50%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

8 40%

Died

3 15%

Euthanised

7 35%

Not known

2 10%

Problems reported at the same time

18 90%

10 50%

9 45%

8 40%

8 40%

8 40%

7 35%

7 35%

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 elevated creatine-kinase (ck) in dogs?: 20 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 35 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).

Elevated creatine-kinase (ck) with similar medicines

Elevated creatine-kinase (ck) after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 27 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Elevated creatine-kinase (ck) after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 21 reports · 0.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Doxycycline in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated creatine-kinase (ck)