Weakness after Metronidazole in dogs

The FDA has received 176 reports of weakness in dogs after Metronidazole. That is 5.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

176Reports

80%Marked serious

9.7%Recovered

44%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

31 22%

1–2 days

34 24%

3–7 days

18 13%

1–4 weeks

29 20%

Over a month

31 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

13 7.4%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 2.3%

Still unwell when reported

58 33%

Died

25 14%

Euthanised

53 30%

Not known

23 13%

Problems reported at the same time

91 52%

89 51%

77 44%

74 42%

70 40%

66 38%

51 29%

40 23%

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 weakness in dogs?: 176 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).

Weakness with similar medicines

Weakness after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 194 reports · 3.6% of its reports
Weakness after Doxycycline 150 reports · 3.7% of its reports
Weakness after Cefovecin (Convenia) 130 reports · 3.4% of its reports
Weakness after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) 215 reports · 5.7% of its reports
Weakness after Amoxicillin 75 reports · 5.6% of its reports

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