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POM-V Prescription Required

Altidox 500 mg/g Powder for Use in Drinking Water for Pigs, Chickens and Turkeys

Active ingredient: Doxycycline Hyclate

Form

Powder

Species

Chickens Pigs Turkeys

Manufacturer

Eurovet Animal Health B.V.

VMD MA No.

16849/4056

What it's used for

Chickens and turkeys: treatment of clinical respiratory infections associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum susceptible to doxycycline.

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓
View official SPC (PDF)

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  1. 1

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    The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Altidox 500 mg/g Powder for Use in Drinking Water for Pigs, Chickens and Turkeys — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Chickens and turkeys: treatment of clinical respiratory infections associated with
Mycoplasma gallisepticum susceptible to doxycycline.
Dosage:
In pigs and chickens
20 mg doxycycline per kg body weight daily (equivalent to 46 mg veterinary medicinal
product per kg body weight), administered in the drinking water for 5 consecutive days.
In turkeys
25 mg doxycycline per kg body weight daily (equivalent to 58 mg veterinary medicinal
product per kg body weight), administered in the drinking water for 5 consecutive days.
Administration:
Based on the recommended dose and the number and weight of the animals to be
treated, the exact daily concentration of the veterinary medicinal product should be
calculated according to the following formula:
.... mg veterinary medicinal product /
kg body weight per day
x
average body
weight (kg) of
animals to be
treated
average daily water intake (l/animal)
= .... mg veterinary
medicinal product per
litre of drinking water
To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible.
The intake of medicated water is dependent on the clinical condition of the animals. In
order to obtain the correct dosage, the concentration in drinking water may have to be
adjusted. The use of suitably calibrated weighing equipment is recommended if part
packs are used. The daily amount is to be added to the drinking water in such a way that
all medication will be consumed within 24 hours. Medicated drinking water should be
freshly prepared every 24 hours. It is recommended to prepare a concentrated pre-
solution and to dilute this further to therapeutic concentrations, if required. Alternatively;
the concentrated solution can be used in a proportional water medicator. The maximum
solubility of the veterinary medicinal product in water is at least 100 g/L.
It should be ensured that all animals intended to be treated should have free access to
the drinking facilities. At the end of treatment, the watering equipment should be cleaned
adequately to avoid the uptake of remaining quantities in sub-therapeutic doses. The
medicated water should be the only source of drinking water throughout the treatment
period. The medicated water must not be made or stored in a metal container or used in
oxidised drinking equipment. Solubility of the veterinary medicinal product is pH-
dependent and it may precipitate if it is mixed in hard alkaline drinking water.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
Do not use when tetracycline resistance has been detected in the herd/flock due to the
potential for cross-resistance.
Do not use in animals with impaired liver or kidney function.
Pigs (for fattening, for reproduction and weaned piglets), chickens (broiler, pullets) and
turkeys (for meat production, for reproduction and poults):
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals
treated):
Allergic reaction*
Photosensitivity (abnormal skin reaction to light)*
*If suspected adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See the immediate packaging for respective contact details.
The uptake of medication by animals can be altered as a consequence of illness. In
case of insufficient uptake of drinking water, animals should be treated parenterally.
AN: 00189/2025 & 00191/2025

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in piglets before
weaning.
Inappropriate use of the veterinary medicinal product may increase the prevalence of
bacteria resistant to tetracyclines due to the potential for cross-resistance.
Due to variability (time, geographical) in susceptibility of bacteria for doxycycline,
bacteriological sampling and susceptibility testing of micro-organisms from diseased
animals on farm are highly recommended.
Use of the veterinary medicinal product should be based on identification and
susceptibility testing of the target pathogen(s). If this is not possible, therapy should be
based on epidemiological information and knowledge of susceptibility of the target
bacteria at farm level, or at local/regional level.
Use of the veterinary medicinal product should be in accordance with official, national
and regional antimicrobial policies. Avoid administration in oxidized drinking equipment.
As eradication of the target pathogens may not be achieved, medication should
therefore be combined with good management practices, e.g. good hygiene, proper
ventilation, no overstocking.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
-
hypersensitivity reactions if contact is made with the skin or eyes (powder and
solution), or if the powder is inhaled.
-
medicinal product into water. Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes when
handling the veterinary medicinal product to prevent sensitisation and contact
dermatitis.
-
veterinary medicinal product. During preparation and administration of the
medicated drinking water, skin contact with the veterinary medicinal product and
inhalation of dust particles should be avoided. Wear impermeable gloves (e.g.
rubber or latex) and an appropriate dust mask (e.g. disposable half-mask
respirator conforming to European Standard EN149 or a non-disposable
respirator to European Standard EN140 with a filter to EN143) when applying the
veterinary medicinal product.
-
clean water and if irritation occurs, seek medical attention.
-
medicinal product.
-
If you develop symptoms following exposure such as skin rash, you should seek medical
advice and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. Swelling of the face,
lips or eyes, or difficulty with breathing are more serious symptoms and require urgent
medical attention.
AN: 00189/2025 & 00191/2025
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
Do not administer concurrently with feed overloaded with polyvalent cations such as
Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
, Zn
2+
and Fe
3+
because the formation of doxycycline complexes with these
cations is possible. It is advised that the interval between administration of other
products containing polyvalent cations should be 1-2 hours because they limit the
absorption of tetracycline.
Doxycycline has a low affinity for forming complexes with calcium and studies have
demonstrated that doxycycline scarcely affects skeleton formation.
Do not administer together with antacids, kaolin or iron preparations.
Do not administer in conjunction with bactericidal antibiotics such as beta-lactames as
tetracyclines are bacteriostatic antimicrobials.
Doxycycline increases the action of anticoagulants.
AN: 00189/2025 & 00191/2025
Keep the bag tightly closed after first opening in order to protect from moisture.
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage
conditions.
AN: 00189/2025 & 00191/2025
Meat and offal:
Pigs: 4 days.
Chickens: 5 days.
Turkeys: 12 days.
Not for use in birds producing eggs for human consumption.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.

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