Details
Benefits:
- Treats a wide array of ailments
- Effectively treats inflammatory bowel disease
- Remedies certain diarrheal disorders including diarrhea caused by the intestinal parasite Giardia
- Treats periodontal disease
- for Dogs, Cats and Horses
Used in Dogs and Cats to treat::
Protozoal Infections
Anaerobic Bacterial Infections
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Colitis caused by other antibiotics
Periodontal Disease [especially in cats]
Clostridium perfringens enterotoxemia
Tetanus diarrhea of undetermined cause
Pancreatic insufficiency with small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth and complications of severe liver-disease
Used in Horses to treat:
Metronidazole is used primarily with other antibiotics to treat mixed-bacterial infections in which anaerobic bacteria are present, for example, pleuropneumonia, peritonitis and abdominal abscesses.
Prophylactically after colic or other abdominal surgery when mixed bacterial infections are a risk.
Possible Side Effects:
Most common: clinical signs related to the bad taste or GI upset.
Dogs and cats: excessive salivation, gagging, regurgitation, pawing at the mouth, nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite are the most frequent complaints.
Less common or rare: diarrhea, depression, lethargy, weakness, low white blood-cell count, liver failure and blood in the urine, or dark urine due to pigment changes. Neurologic signs may be seen after
accidental overdose or, more commonly, with long-term moderate-to high-dose therapy as to treat difficult bacterial infections. Signs often begin seven to 12 days following the start of treatment.
Horses: side effects are not associated commonly with metronidazole. The major problem with using this drug is its bad taste. Many horses stop eating when this drug is mixed with feed and a reliable method of administration must be found
Precautions:
Metronidazole causes birth defects in laboratory animals. It should be avoided in pregnant animals, especially in the first trimester. Some metronidazole is excreted in breast milk and it should not be used in lactating animals.
Metronidazole should not be used in young puppies and kittens.
Metronidazole should be avoided or used with caution, at reduced doses, in animals with kidney or liver disease.
Drug Interactions:
Metronidazole is reported to elevate prothrombin time in animals on warfarin or other coumarin anticoagulants.
Cimetidine can interfere with the liver's ability to break down metronidazole and the dose of metronidazole may have to be reduced.
Phenobarbital and phenytoin may increase the metabolism of metronidazole.
Instructions
It is important to follow your Veterinarian's prescription instructions for your pet.
Administration for Dogs and Cats:
Metronidazole usually is tolerated better if given with food due to its bitter taste. 
Because of the variety of uses for this drug, dose amount, frequency and duration of treatment vary widely. Please follow your Veterinarians prescription.
Administrations for Horses:
Metronidazole generally is given orally although it also is absorbed rectally.
Rectal administration is used occasionally in the very sick patient when anorexia and weight loss are a problem.
Please follow your Veterinarian's prescription.
