Elevated temperature after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 33 reports of elevated temperature in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

33Reports

70%Marked serious

18%Recovered

21%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 37%

1–2 days

1 3.7%

3–7 days

7 26%

1–4 weeks

2 7.4%

Over a month

7 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 15%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 3.0%

Still unwell when reported

13 39%

Died

3 9.1%

Euthanised

4 12%

Not known

7 21%

Problems reported at the same time

20 61%

19 58%

16 48%

14 42%

10 30%

8 24%

8 24%

8 24%

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 temperature in dogs?: 33 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 3 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 temperature with similar medicines

Elevated temperature after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 37 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Elevated temperature after Doxycycline 21 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Elevated temperature after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 27 reports · 0.7% of its reports

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