Content
- What is metronidazole?
- Metronidazole for dogs
- Administration of metronidazole for dogs
- Doses of metronidazole for dogs
- Metronidazole Side Effects for Dogs
- Metronidazole Price for Dogs
O metronidazole for dogs is a medicine used relatively frequently in veterinary medicine. It is an active ingredient that we will also find in human medicine. But even if you have this product in your medicine cabinet, you should never give it to your dog yourself. Only a veterinarian can prescribe this medication and determine the most appropriate administration protocol after examining and diagnosing the dog.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain in detail about metronidazole for dogs, the uses that this medicine has, which dose should be applied and the side effects that may occur.
What is metronidazole?
Metronidazole is a antibiotic and antiprotozoan. This means that its use is effective in fighting infections caused by anaerobic bacteria, which do not need oxygen, and digestive parasites such as giardia. This medicine also has anti-inflammatory effects in the gut.
Metronidazole for dogs
Have you ever wondered if can give metronidazole to dog? Metronidazole uses are generally related to infections in the digestive system, but it may also be prescribed for infections of the urogenital system, mouth, throat, or skin lesions. Above all, it is common to give metronidazole to dogs with diarrhea, but the veterinarian should examine you first, as not all diarrhea will be resolved with this medicine.
One of the causes of diarrhea in dogs is parasites, but metronidazole is not usually used to deworm dogs. This product is reserved for when giardia is found in the stool or when its presence is suspected. These types of parasites are more frequent in younger animals. Because it is a quite safe medicine, the veterinarian may also prescribe metronidazole for puppies.
Another type of diarrhea treated with metronidazole is diarrhea that becomes chronic, such as those that can cause inflammatory bowel disease. Occasionally, metronidazole may also be prescribed in combination with other drugs.
Administration of metronidazole for dogs
You can find metronidazole in different presentations, which will make its administration easier, as this allows you to adjust the dose to the dog's weight and choose the form that it will accept more easily. The veterinarian will choose between the pills of metronidazole, which can be divided, for larger dogs, and the syrup or suspension of metronidazole for minors or puppies. At home, you can manage these two presentations.
However, in other cases, the professional may choose metronidazole in solution injectable. This is usually reserved for more severe cases where the drug is given intravenously.
Doses of metronidazole for dogs
The recommended dose of metronidazole for oral administration is 50mg/day per kg of body weight, for a minimum period of 5-7 days. Anyway, only the professional can prescribe the dosage, the duration of treatment and the appropriate dosage, that is, how many times the drug should be administered per day, since it can be divided into several doses.
As it is an antibiotic, it is extremely important that, even if the dog gets better soon, you don't stop taking metronidazole every day as directed by the veterinarian. The objective, in addition to complete recovery, is to prevent bacterial resistance from occurring.
Metronidazole Side Effects for Dogs
Metronidazole is a drug that usually does not cause side effectstherefore, adverse reactions are uncommon. When they do occur, the most common are gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, neurological disorders and, less likely, liver disorders.
Symptoms can also appear if the dog receives a inadequate dose of the drug, to the point of becoming intoxicated or in long-term treatments. That's why it's so important that you always follow the vet's instructions. In the latter case, symptoms include:
- Lack of coordination when walking;
- Head tilted posture;
- Disorientation;
- Nystagmus, which are rapid, involuntary eye movements;
- Tremors;
- Seizures;
- Rigidity.
Any symptoms like the ones mentioned above are reason for urgent veterinary consultation. It is not recommended to administer metronidazole for dogs with liver problems, and special care must be taken when it is used in pregnant or lactating females. Only the veterinarian can decide on the use of this medication.
Metronidazole Price for Dogs
The price of metronidazole will depend on the marketing that was prescribed. In general, drugs for human use such as Flagyl will be cheaper than veterinary drugs such as Metrobactin. What will the veterinarian prescribe, depends on the legislation of each country, however, the trend is that it can only prescribe veterinary drugs.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.