Intentional misuse after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 34 reports of intentional misuse in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 1.1% 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.

34Reports

85%Marked serious

12%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

6 19%

1–2 days

3 9.4%

3–7 days

5 16%

1–4 weeks

6 19%

Over a month

12 38%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 12%

Still unwell when reported

24 71%

Died

2 5.9%

Euthanised

2 5.9%

Not known

2 5.9%

Problems reported at the same time

13 38%

12 35%

10 29%

10 29%

9 26%

Didn't work as expected

8 24%

Weight loss

7 21%

Neutrophilia

6 18%

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 intentional misuse in dogs?: 34 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 10 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).

Intentional misuse with similar medicines

Intentional misuse after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 94 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Intentional misuse after Doxycycline 79 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Intentional misuse after Cefovecin (Convenia) 61 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Intentional misuse after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 21 reports · 0.6% of its reports

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