Collapse after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 83 reports of collapse in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 2.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.9% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

83Reports

92%Marked serious

14%Recovered

42%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 38%

1–2 days

7 10%

3–7 days

7 10%

1–4 weeks

13 19%

Over a month

15 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.2%

Still unwell when reported

29 35%

Died

18 22%

Euthanised

17 20%

Not known

7 8.4%

Problems reported at the same time

41 49%

36 43%

35 42%

35 42%

33 40%

28 34%

21 25%

21 25%

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 collapse in dogs?: 83 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 4 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).

Collapse with similar medicines

Collapse after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 104 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Collapse after Doxycycline 89 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Collapse after Cefovecin (Convenia) 102 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Collapse after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 77 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Collapse after Amoxicillin 35 reports · 2.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Metronidazole in dogs · Medicines most reported with collapse