New Lyme Disease treatment protocol for dogs? UPDATE !!

[Lusoluv]

My 11 year dog just got diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Vet prescribed Doxycyline appropriate to her size, etc. But after talking to 2 friends who’ve dealt with this before, the dosage protocol my vet recommended is different.

My vet stated 1 pill/12 hours, so 2 pills per day for 15 days.

My friends say their vets said 1 pill/day for 30 days!

My friend with a LabX said her first vet said the same as my vet did, but after 15 days, her dog crashed and had a more severe rebound episode and almost died. She switched vets for a 2nd opinion and that vet said Doxy for Lyme is always 30 days!

Don’t want to question my vet, but with online treatment articles and 2 friends with more experience with this disease than me all saying 30 days…I’m starting to worry! What have your experiences been? Thank you!

***Called vet this morning. They indeed made an error on the pill bottle about 1 tab 2x/day. It’s one pill/day for 30 days. Thank you COTHers for having me question my vet (politely) about this!!! And my dog thanks you!

[Marshfield]

10 mg per kg for 30 days. Can be split am/pm or given all at once

[Horsegal984]

What Marshfield said. The dose can be given as 5mg/kg twice a day or 10mg/kg once a day.

But it’s always 30 days.

[Lusoluv]

Yes, my friends have said always 30 days! Not sure why this vet would double the dosage and halve the time frame. I’ve never dealt with Lyme disease so didn’t want to start questioning the DVM, but I think I will call her tomorrow.

[Horsegal984]

What does your dog weigh? And how many mg are the doxycycline you’re giving?

[Lusoluv]

The Doxy tabs are 100mg. My dog is 20 lbs. From what I’ve read and heard from others, it’s 5mg/lb, so that part is good. I was given 30 tablets. But protocol should be 1 full tab once a day for 30 days. OR break tablet in half and give half in the am and pm for 30 days. Right?

Pill bottle says “Give 1 tab every 12 hours until gone”. So at 2 tablets per day, that is only a 15 day supply.

[Horsegal984]

I would call your vet, sometimes errors happen and I wonder if they meant to say 1/2 tablet twice a day and mistyped. Then you would have a full 30 day supply. I’m putting money on a simple typo error. Unfortunately it happens, as vets as just as human as the rest of us.

[Lusoluv]

Thanks Horsegal984 and previous posters!!

[LauraKY]

My Maryland vet extended for 45 days. I’ve never heard of once daily dosing for doxy either.