Seizures after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 172 reports of seizures in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 5.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

172Reports

90%Marked serious

23%Recovered

41%Died or euthanised

6 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 23%

1–2 days

29 21%

3–7 days

15 11%

1–4 weeks

27 20%

Over a month

35 25%

How the animals did

Recovered

36 21%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 1.7%

Still unwell when reported

42 24%

Died

26 15%

Euthanised

44 26%

Not known

21 12%

Problems reported at the same time

69 40%

49 28%

45 26%

43 25%

42 24%

41 24%

28 16%

25 15%

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 seizures in dogs?: 172 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).

Seizures with similar medicines

Seizures after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 319 reports · 5.9% of its reports
Seizures after Doxycycline 185 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Seizures after Cefovecin (Convenia) 264 reports · 7.0% of its reports
Seizures after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 373 reports · 9.9% of its reports
Seizures after Amoxicillin 88 reports · 6.5% of its reports

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