Pancreatitis after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 96 reports of pancreatitis in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 3.1% 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.

96Reports

84%Marked serious

9.4%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 17%

1–2 days

14 19%

3–7 days

16 21%

1–4 weeks

9 12%

Over a month

23 31%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 8.3%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.0%

Still unwell when reported

41 43%

Died

11 11%

Euthanised

19 20%

Not known

16 17%

Problems reported at the same time

59 61%

52 54%

49 51%

37 39%

36 38%

30 31%

19 20%

Abnormal ultrasound finding

18 19%

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 pancreatitis in dogs?: 96 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 5 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).

Pancreatitis with similar medicines

Pancreatitis after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 54 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Pancreatitis after Doxycycline 27 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Pancreatitis after Cefovecin (Convenia) 38 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Pancreatitis after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 69 reports · 1.8% of its reports

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