Hypokalaemia after Doxycycline in dogs

39 reports to the FDA describe hypokalaemia in dogs given Doxycycline. That is 1.0% 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.

39Reports

87%Marked serious

7.7%Recovered

44%Died or euthanised

15 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

9 26%

1–2 days

2 5.9%

3–7 days

4 12%

1–4 weeks

5 15%

Over a month

14 41%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 7.7%

Still unwell when reported

12 31%

Died

5 13%

Euthanised

12 31%

Not known

7 18%

Problems reported at the same time

31 79%

20 51%

20 51%

19 49%

19 49%

17 44%

17 44%

17 44%

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 hypokalaemia in dogs?: 39 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 15 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).

Hypokalaemia with similar medicines

Hypokalaemia after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 46 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Cefovecin (Convenia) 26 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 47 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Metronidazole 49 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Amoxicillin 21 reports · 1.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Doxycycline in dogs · Medicines most reported with hypokalaemia