Wobbliness (ataxia) after Doxycycline in dogs

154 reports to the FDA describe wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs given Doxycycline. That is 3.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

154Reports

67%Marked serious

18%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

9 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 22%

1–2 days

14 11%

3–7 days

21 16%

1–4 weeks

28 21%

Over a month

39 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

25 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.3%

Still unwell when reported

65 42%

Died

10 6.5%

Euthanised

29 19%

Not known

23 15%

Problems reported at the same time

59 38%

54 35%

40 26%

40 26%

39 25%

29 19%

29 19%

29 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 wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 154 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 9 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 280 reports · 5.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Cefovecin (Convenia) 188 reports · 5.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 280 reports · 7.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Metronidazole 160 reports · 5.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Amoxicillin 74 reports · 5.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Doxycycline in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)