Hypoglycaemia after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 66 reports of hypoglycaemia in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 2.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

66Reports

89%Marked serious

11%Recovered

56%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 14%

1–2 days

17 29%

3–7 days

10 17%

1–4 weeks

13 22%

Over a month

10 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 7.6%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 3.0%

Still unwell when reported

14 21%

Died

16 24%

Euthanised

21 32%

Not known

8 12%

Problems reported at the same time

41 62%

41 62%

40 61%

39 59%

37 56%

31 47%

28 42%

20 30%

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 hypoglycaemia in dogs?: 66 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).

Hypoglycaemia with similar medicines

Hypoglycaemia after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 66 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Doxycycline 30 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Cefovecin (Convenia) 49 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 75 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Amoxicillin 21 reports · 1.6% of its reports

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