Postexposure management and treatment of anthrax in dogs--executive councils of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology.

Dogs are generally at low risk of developing disease following exposure to anthrax. When disease does occur, it appears associated with oral exposure to the bacteria leading to massive swelling of the head, neck, and mediastinal regions. Death is due to toxemia and shock. For animals at high risk, such as search and rescue dogs with a known exposure, doxycycline at 5 mg/kg orally once daily for 45 to 60 days is suggested as a prophylactic treatment. Additional information on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the disease in dogs is presented.