Metronidazole in Dogs
- Metronidazole is bactericidal and has the ability to destroy bacterial microorganisms by dismantling their DNA. An animal's body quickly absorbs the antibiotic through the GI tract where it is then metabolized by the liver and excreted. Metronidazole is also commonly used in combination with other types of antibiotics because it exclusively works against anaerobic bacteria. As a result of this it does not disrupt most other antibiotics and is usually used in combination to remedy mixed-bacterial infections.
- Veterinarians use Metronidazole to treat various protozoal infections in cats and dogs, including Balantidium, Entamobea, Giardia and Trichomonas, and also anaerobic bacterial infections. The antibiotic has immune-balancing properties and can be used as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to these treatments Metronidazole can also be used to treat clostridium perfringens enterotoeximia, diarrhea, pancreatic insufficiency, severe liver disease and tetanus. Metronidazole treatment specifications vary highly because of the diverse amount of uses for the antibiotic.
- Metronidazole also has certain side effects that an owner should be aware of when using it to treat a pet. One of the most frequent side effects is a bad taste which animals prefer to avoid. It can also cause symptoms such as an abundance of salivation, decreased appetite, gagging, nausea and vomiting. On rare occasions it may cause other more serious symptoms such as blood occurrence in urine, lethargy, weakness, liver failure or a low white blood-cell count.
- In the case of an overdose, various gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting can occur. Also, an animal which has taken an excess amount of Metronidazole can have neurological symptoms such as ataxia, bradycardia, disorientation, stiffness, seizures and tremors. These types of neurological effects occur more frequently when an animal has taken Metronidazole for long periods of time or have taken a high amount of the antibiotic, which is considered more than 66 mg per day.
- Because Metronidazole has caused birth defects in certain laboratory animals veterinarians should not use Metronidazole in pregnant dogs. This is especially crucial during the first trimester of an animal's pregnancy. Also, because of Metronidazole's ability to become present in breast milk, it should not be given to lactating animals. In addition the antibiotic should not be administered to infant puppies or kittens and should not be given to animals that have kidney or liver disease.