Hypokalaemia after Metronidazole in dogs

49 reports to the FDA describe hypokalaemia in dogs given Metronidazole. That is 1.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

49Reports

86%Marked serious

6.1%Recovered

37%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 18%

1–2 days

12 27%

3–7 days

3 6.7%

1–4 weeks

6 13%

Over a month

16 36%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 6.1%

Still unwell when reported

22 45%

Died

1 2.0%

Euthanised

17 35%

Not known

6 12%

Problems reported at the same time

37 76%

29 59%

26 53%

26 53%

24 49%

24 49%

20 41%

18 37%

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 hypokalaemia in dogs?: 49 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).

Hypokalaemia with similar medicines

Hypokalaemia after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 46 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Doxycycline 39 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Cefovecin (Convenia) 26 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 47 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Hypokalaemia after Amoxicillin 21 reports · 1.6% of its reports

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