Neutrophilia after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 168 reports of neutrophilia in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 5.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

168Reports

79%Marked serious

11%Recovered

37%Died or euthanised

6 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 19%

1–2 days

27 20%

3–7 days

17 13%

1–4 weeks

27 20%

Over a month

37 28%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 8.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 1.8%

Still unwell when reported

64 38%

Died

13 7.7%

Euthanised

49 29%

Not known

24 14%

Problems reported at the same time

109 65%

99 59%

99 59%

96 57%

82 49%

78 46%

71 42%

62 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 neutrophilia in dogs?: 168 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 6 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).

Neutrophilia with similar medicines

Neutrophilia after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 231 reports · 4.3% of its reports
Neutrophilia after Doxycycline 165 reports · 4.1% of its reports
Neutrophilia after Cefovecin (Convenia) 111 reports · 2.9% of its reports
Neutrophilia after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 156 reports · 4.1% of its reports
Neutrophilia after Amoxicillin 67 reports · 5.0% of its reports

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