Itching after Metronidazole in cats

20 reports to the FDA describe itching in cats given Metronidazole. That is 5.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

20Reports

65%Marked serious

45%Recovered

5.0%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

3 19%

1–2 days

8 50%

3–7 days

3 19%

1–4 weeks

1 6.3%

Over a month

1 6.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 45%

Still unwell when reported

6 30%

Died

1 5.0%

Not known

4 20%

Problems reported at the same time

Hair loss

7 35%

Application site reaction

5 25%

4 20%

4 20%

4 20%

4 20%

Fever

3 15%

Skin rash or irritation

3 15%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Metronidazole treats some bacterial and parasitic gut infections.

Questions owners ask

Can Metronidazole cause itching in cats?: 20 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Itching with similar medicines

Itching after Cefovecin (Convenia) 563 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Itching after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 112 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Itching after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 85 reports · 5.4% of its reports
Itching after Amoxicillin 25 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Itching after Doxycycline 21 reports · 8.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Metronidazole in cats · Medicines most reported with itching