Low platelet count after Doxycycline in dogs

112 reports to the FDA describe low platelet count in dogs given Doxycycline. That is 2.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

112Reports

88%Marked serious

6.3%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

22 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 12%

1–2 days

10 11%

3–7 days

13 14%

1–4 weeks

20 21%

Over a month

41 43%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 6.3%

Still unwell when reported

45 40%

Died

14 13%

Euthanised

31 28%

Not known

15 13%

Problems reported at the same time

59 53%

58 52%

51 46%

45 40%

44 39%

39 35%

35 31%

31 28%

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 low platelet count in dogs?: 112 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 22 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).

Low platelet count with similar medicines

Low platelet count after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 64 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Low platelet count after Cefovecin (Convenia) 38 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Low platelet count after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 74 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Low platelet count after Metronidazole 63 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Low platelet count after Amoxicillin 24 reports · 1.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Doxycycline in dogs · Medicines most reported with low platelet count