POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Doxybactin 50 mg Tablets for Dogs and Cats

Active ingredient: Doxycycline

Form

Tablet

Species

Cats Dogs

Manufacturer

Dechra Regulatory B.V.

VMD MA No.

50406/4022

What it's used for

Bronchopneumonia caused by Bordetella spp. and Pasteurella spp.; Interstitial nephritis caused by Leptospira spp. Cats: Respiratory infections caused by Bo...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Doxycycline

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

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

Your prescription rights → VMD register of retailers →

Prescription required

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

Clinical information

Doxybactin 50 mg Tablets for Dogs and Cats — SPC Details

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

Bronchopneumonia caused by Bordetella spp. and Pasteurella spp.;
Interstitial nephritis caused by Leptospira spp.
Cats:
Respiratory infections caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica and
Pasteurella spp.

The recommended dose for dogs and cats is 10 mg doxycycline per kg bodyweight
per day. The majority of routine cases are expected to respond after between 5 and 7
days of therapy. Therapy should continue for 2 to 3 days beyond the clinical cure for
acute infections. In chronic or refractory cases, a longer course of therapy, up to 14
AN: 04019/2024 & 04020/2024
days, may be required. In dogs with interstitial nephritis due to leptospirosis,
treatment for 14 days is recommended. In cats with C. felis infections, it is
recommended to administer treatment for a minimum period of 28 days in order to
ensure elimination of the organism. To ensure a correct dosage body weight should
be determined as accurately as possible. Tablets should be administered together
with the food (see section 3.5).
The following table is intended as a guide to dispensing the veterinary medicinal
product at the standard dose rate of 10 mg per kg bodyweight per day.
Body weightDose
mg
Doxybactin
50 mg
Doxybactin
200 mg
Doxybactin
400 mg
0.75 kg – 1.25 kg12.5-->1.25 kg – 2.5 kg25-->2.5 kg – 3.75 kg37.5-->3.75 kg – 5 kg50-->5 kg – 6.25 kg62.5-->6.25 kg – 7.5 kg75-->7.5 kg – 10 kg100-->10 kg – 12.5 kg125-->12.5 kg – 15 kg150->15 kg – 20 kg200-->20 kg – 25 kg250AND->25 kg – 30 kg300-->30 kg – 35 kg350-->35 kg – 40 kg400-->40 kg – 45 kg450AND>45 kg – 50 kg500-AND>50 kg – 60 kg600-AND>60 kg – 70 kg700-AND>70 kg – 80 kg800--
= ¼ Tablet = ½ Tablet = ¾ Tablet = 1 Tablet
AN: 04019/2024 & 04020/2024
Tablets can be divided into 2 or 4 equal parts to ensure accurate dosing. Place the
tablet on a flat surface, with its scored side facing up and the convex (rounded) side
facing the surface.
2 equal parts: press down with your thumbs on both sides of the tablet.
4 equal parts: press down with your thumb in the middle of the tablet.

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to tetracyclines or to any of the excipients.
AN: 04019/2024 & 04020/2024

Dogs, cats:
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10 000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Gastrointestinal disorder (e.g. Vomiting,
Diarrhoea, Oesophagitis), Dental discolouration
a
Hypersensitivity reaction
Photosensitivity
b
, Photodermatitis
b
Developmental bone and joint disorders
c
a
In very young animals. By the formation of a tetracycline-calcium phosphate complex.
b
After exposure to intense daylight.
c
Retardation of skeletal growth of young animals (reversible upon discontinuation of
therapy) is known to occur with use of other tetracyclines and might occur following
administration of doxycycline.
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 its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
The veterinary medicinal product should be administered with caution to animals with
dysphagia or diseases accompanied with vomiting, since administration of
doxycycline hyclate tablets has been associated with oesophageal erosion.
In order to reduce the likelihood of oesophageal irritation as well as other
gastrointestinal side effects, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered
together with food.
Special care should be taken when administering the veterinary medicinal product to
animals with liver disease, since increases in hepatic enzymes have been
documented in some animals after doxycycline treatment.
The veterinary medicinal product should be administered with caution to young
animals, since tetracyclines as a class may cause permanent discolouration of the
teeth, when administered during tooth development. However, human literature
indicates that doxycycline is less likely than other tetracyclines to cause these
abnormalities, due to its reduced ability to chelate calcium.
Use of the veterinary medicinal product should be based on identification and
susceptibility testing of the target pathogens. If this is not possible, therapy should be
based on epidemiological information and knowledge of susceptibility of the target
pathogens at local / regional level. Use of the veterinary medicinal product should be
in accordance with official, national and regional antimicrobial policies. Use of the
veterinary medicinal product deviating from the instructions given in the SPC may
increase the prevalence of bacteria resistant to doxycycline and may decrease the
effectiveness of treatment with other tetracyclines, due to the potential for cross-
resistance.
As tablets are flavoured store tablets out of reach of the animals in order to avoid
accidental ingestion.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
Tetracyclines may cause hypersensitivity (allergy) reactions.
People with known hypersensitivity to tetracyclines should avoid contact with the
veterinary medicinal product.
If you develop symptoms following exposure such as skin rash, seek medical advice
immediately and show the package leaflet to the physician.
Doxycycline may cause gastrointestinal disturbances after accidental ingestion,
especially by children. To avoid accidental ingestion, particularly by a child, unused
tablet parts should be returned to the open blister space and inserted back into the
carton. In case of accidental ingestion, particularly by children, seek medical advice
immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. Wash hands
after use.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
AN: 04019/2024 & 04020/2024

Do not administer concurrently with bactericidal antibiotics such as penicillins and
cephalosporins. Oral absorbents and substances containing multivalent cations such
as antacids and iron salts should not be used from 3 hours before to 3 hours after the
administration of doxycycline. The half-life of doxycycline is reduced by concurrent
administration of antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital and phenytoin.

Store below 30°C.

Not applicable

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.