Kidney problems after Metronidazole in cats

30 reports to the FDA describe kidney problems in cats given Metronidazole. That is 7.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

30Reports

77%Marked serious

10%Recovered

30%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 16%

1–2 days

5 20%

3–7 days

4 16%

1–4 weeks

3 12%

Over a month

9 36%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 10%

Still unwell when reported

16 53%

Died

1 3.3%

Euthanised

8 27%

Not known

2 6.7%

Problems reported at the same time

15 50%

15 50%

12 40%

8 27%

8 27%

8 27%

7 23%

7 23%

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 kidney problems in cats?: 30 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 5 days 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Cefovecin (Convenia) 761 reports · 8.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 171 reports · 7.2% of its reports
Kidney problems after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 114 reports · 7.2% of its reports
Kidney problems after Amoxicillin 30 reports · 5.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Doxycycline 29 reports · 11% of its reports

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