Unable to walk after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 40 reports of unable to walk in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 1.3% 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.

40Reports

88%Marked serious

2.5%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

12 36%

1–2 days

4 12%

3–7 days

2 6.1%

1–4 weeks

5 15%

Over a month

10 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 2.5%

Still unwell when reported

18 45%

Died

5 13%

Euthanised

11 28%

Not known

5 13%

Problems reported at the same time

20 50%

18 45%

17 43%

14 35%

14 35%

8 20%

8 20%

8 20%

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 unable to walk in dogs?: 40 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).

Unable to walk with similar medicines

Unable to walk after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 25 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Unable to walk after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 20 reports · 0.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Metronidazole in dogs · Medicines most reported with unable to walk