Death after Metronidazole in dogs

603 reports to the FDA describe death in dogs given Metronidazole. That is 20% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

603Reports

98%Marked serious

0.2%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

8 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

87 17%

1–2 days

88 18%

3–7 days

71 14%

1–4 weeks

127 25%

Over a month

128 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

1 0.2%

Died

249 41%

Euthanised

351 58%

Not known

1 0.2%

Problems reported at the same time

286 47%

256 42%

237 39%

228 38%

227 38%

160 27%

128 21%

125 21%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

204

12+ years

162

About this medicine

Metronidazole treats some bacterial and parasitic gut infections.

Questions owners ask

Can Metronidazole cause death in dogs?: 603 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 8 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 830 reports · 15% of its reports
Death after Doxycycline 519 reports · 13% of its reports
Death after Cefovecin (Convenia) 715 reports · 19% of its reports
Death after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 748 reports · 20% of its reports
Death after Amoxicillin 276 reports · 20% of its reports

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