An Antibiotic for Dog Cancer
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: March 20th, 2019
Antibiotics are normally used to treat infections, but not many know that there are anti-tumor antibiotics.
One of the cheapest, safest, and most easily obtained through a vet? Doxycycline. Now, doxycycline is not a dream antibiotic. It actually has fairly limited use as an antibiotic. Some use it for dental infections, but it is most commonly used to treat certain blood parasites.
Some exciting news about doxy? It has anticancer effects!
Doxycyline helps suppress angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation that feeds tumors and robs the body). In this way it slows tumor growth. It blocks enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) that digest the tissue around tumors, allowing new blood vessels to be formed. Check it out here.
Not having access to as much blood supply, the cancer cells are less able to metastasize through the circulation. This lessens the spread of some cancers. Read more.
In the lab, this drug can induce apoptosis (normal, healthy, programmed death) of cancer cells. This is a direct action on the cancer cells, and may have some usefulness in cancers like lymphosarcoma. Here’s the abstract.
In humans, this drug has been a disappointment for cancer treatment. But in dogs, according to Greg Oglivie, MMP inhibitors (of which doxy is one) combined with chemo for lymphosarcoma improved survival times in some older dogs in double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Although this is a prescription drug, it is widely available and inexpensive. It can be used with most other agents used in fighting cancer, and is quite safe.
When young dogs take doxycycline, some may develop yellowed teeth. It may cause abnormalities in the cartilage of developing pups in the uterus, so do not give it to pregnant dogs. It should not be given with calcium-containing foods as this may lessen absorption of the drug.
Best to all,
Dr D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
I am reading your book. My dog is getting radiation for her left back femur. Bone cancer. 2 small , .05 nodules were found in one lung. I am giving my dog Apocaps daily. My dog will be 4 in March. This is so hard to deal with. Roxy is a pet, not a breeding dog.
Hi my dog have lungs cancer they find this yesterday Can I have contact to Doctor and send pictures X-Ray . maybe you have another idea to help him with his illness.
Please answer me
Hi … You can contact Dr. Dressler at his vet hospital, South Shore Veterinary in Kihei, Hawaii, at https://vetinkihei.com
Dog cytology shows squamous cell carcinoma. Can I use Doxycycline or other anti biotics to slow or kill cancer cells ?
Thank you for this information, my 20 year old chi has lymphoma in her neck. I will be asking our vet about doxycycline for her. We want to help her. She is our child. Her name is Princess Diana.
Can Doxy be used in conjunction with Apocaps?
Hi Justine! I’m not a veterinarian, so I can’t offer medical advice, but in general, Apocaps can be used alongside conventional medications including antibiotics like doxycycline. Here’s a link to the manufacturer’s relevant Help Center article: https://help.functionalnutriments.com/article/39-using-apocaps-cxcxe-with-other-treatments-medications-or-supplements
I have a Boston Terrier with 3 or 4 cancerous lesions…diagnosed by aspiration by a vet in August. I was told he’d have maybe 3 months to live. They gave me 5mg Prednisone & I myself started him on a half benedryl daily.
3 months later read about doxy. G began giving him a dose daily. I know it’s not good to self treat. But, the vet refused to do anything else. This is a well know full surgical vet hospital in MO. Putter…the Boston is doing fine. Lessions have grown a little. I’m scared to death of losing him. I just don’t know if my dosage is exact & for how long I should use doxy,??
Hi Ann,
Thanks for writing, and we’re sorry to hear about your boy. As we’re not veterinarians here in customer support, we can’t offer you medical advice. However, we can provide you with information based off Dr. D’s writings 🙂
On pages 192-193 of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, Dr. D provides more information on doxycycline including the precautions and dosage 🙂
Can a dog with diabetes AND cancer take the antibiotic doxycycline my rottie is 9 on supplements wondering if this will do any good?
Hi Lisa, check with your veterinarian about whether doxycycline will affect your pup’s diabetes. I’m not sure whether it affects blood sugar levels, but your vet will be able to find out. Plus, you need to get the med from your veterinarian anyway — so ask when you bring this up in your next visit. Thanks!