Elevated lipase after Metronidazole in dogs

46 reports to the FDA describe elevated lipase in dogs given Metronidazole. That is 1.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

46Reports

78%Marked serious

8.7%Recovered

35%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 26%

1–2 days

8 21%

3–7 days

3 7.7%

1–4 weeks

8 21%

Over a month

10 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 6.5%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 2.2%

Still unwell when reported

18 39%

Died

2 4.3%

Euthanised

14 30%

Not known

8 17%

Problems reported at the same time

34 74%

27 59%

27 59%

24 52%

21 46%

19 41%

16 35%

16 35%

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 elevated lipase in dogs?: 46 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).

Elevated lipase with similar medicines

Elevated lipase after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 40 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Doxycycline 24 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Cefovecin (Convenia) 38 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 38 reports · 1.0% of its reports

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