Stomach illnesses can be uncomfortable for us all, but our dogs can’t tell us when they’re in need of help for it.

Thankfully, there are medications that your vet can prescribe to help your dog to receive relief from the pain and discomfort that can come with a stomach bug. Because it’s a drug that is prescribed rather often, it’s one that is worth knowing the purposes and side effects of.

Knowing all the options you have to ensure your pet gets the best care is extremely important. So let’s take a look into what this medication can provide, as well as other options you may have.

What Is Metronidazole For Dogs?

Metronidazole is an agent that is made to be antiprotozoal and antibacterial. Consequently, it helps in fighting back against the fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms that can result in a stomach bug. This medication is often known as Flagyl, for those who may know it by that name.

Flagyl for dogs works to place restrictions on microorganisms so that they cannot replicate or grow as they would normally. As a result, those organisms aren’t able to have as much of an effect on your pet, allowing them to heal from the illness more quickly and easily. By decreasing the number of these organisms, it’s easier to do away with the pet illness.

Metronidazole 500mg

This medication has an effect on the DNA of the microorganism that has invaded your pet, stopping it in its tracks and allowing their body to do away with anaerobic bacterial and protozoal infections. Because of these effects, it’s able to work well against issues like:

• Trichomonas
• Giardia
• Balantidium coli

The help that Metronidazole can provide is highly important, as it can stop these organisms from resulting in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Furthermore, it works very well as an anti-inflammatory because of the immunosuppression effects it’s able to bring to the immune system and gastrointestinal tract.

Keep in mind that this suppression is only a minor aspect. It’s not a medication seeking to make your pet more likely to succumb to secondary infections. Due to the ability to cross the barrier between blood and brain, it’s also able to work on bacteria within the central nervous system.

As a result, bacterial infections and peripheral neuropathy can both be assisted by this medication. It also does a great job of helping with bone and dental infections thanks to the ability to penetrate bone. There are really a high number of uses for this great medication.

Metronidazole For Cats

Metronidazole is for cats as well as dogs, and it functions in the same ways. Especially useful to cats is the ability of Flagyl for cats to seek out anaerobic bacteria and destroy it. Generally, it’s provided in the form of an injection to treat colitis, skin abscesses, stomatitis, and periodontal disease that can come from bites from other cats.

For cats, the medication is often developed as a liquid. It also strives to be more palatable to picky felines so that providing the medication is less difficult. Overall, it’s a medication that can provide great results for dogs and cats alike when given correctly.

What Does Flagyl Treat?

There are a variety of uses out there that Flagyl can be helpful for. It’s very helpful in dealing with problems involving anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, and some of the parasites that can effect your pet. Oftentimes, it can be used to assist with the inflammation that can occur in the large intestine and result in diarrhea or colitis.

One of the key uses for this medication is the treatment of Giardia. This parasite is known for destroying intestinal cells, resulting in appetite loss in your pet as well as vomiting and diarrhea.

Metronidazole mechanism of action also has the ability to penetrate into bone, which is highly useful in treating oral infections and periodontal disease. On top of that, there are many of the more general infections caused by sepsis and bacteria can be treated with Metronidazole as well.

When it comes to external parasites, Flagyl can also treat Babesia gibsoni, which is an infection that is often spread by ticks.

While it is a highly useful medication, there are times when using it should be avoided. These can include animals that are:

• Lactating or pregnant
• Very young
• Dealing with Kidney Disease or Liver Disease

In order to determine the best options for your pet, it’s wise to make sure your vet knows the entirety of your pet’s medical history and have given them a physical exam. That way, your pet can get help in the safest possible way for their unique situation.

Using metronidazole for puppies that are too young isn’t generally a good idea, as their bodies aren’t prepared for it. Flagyl adverse effects may become more serious for them than older dogs.

If it’s found that your dog is dealing with a stomach ulcer, then sucralfate for dogs can be a treatment option. Make sure to gather information on sucralfate doses, sucralfate side effects and how long sucralfate stays in your dog’s system.

Metronidazole For Dogs Doses

Once the cause and treatment are determined, it’s time to consider the metronidazole dosage for dogs. This is an incredibly important part of the process, as doses that are too high can be life threatening. It’s also important to keep in mind that while not FDA-approved, metronidazole for dogs is deemed safe for use on pets by most vets.

Typically, a standard dose for this medication is somewhere between 5 and 20mg per kilogram of weight. Because of this, it’s up to the vet to determine the exact correct metronidazole dosage for a 10lb dog, for example, rather than trying to guess it yourself. Generally speaking, the dosage for cats matches this amount as well. The metronidazole dog dosage for diarrhea and other symptoms, it can be provided as a tablet, but it’s often in liquid form for cats.

If your pet is taking the antibiotic metronidazole and you miss a dose, then make sure to provide it to them as soon as possible. However, if the next dose is coming up soon then resort to providing that dose as normal. Don’t give them a double dose to make up for lost time.

In the event that you suspect an overdose, get your dog to a vet right away. Signs of an overdose can include nausea, vomiting and dizziness. You may also notice neurological signs as well. If they have a seizure, the vet can control that relatively easily.

While it shouldn’t be a long wait, you may also want to as your vet how long it takes for metronidazole to work for your dog, just so you have that knowledge. It can also be worth knowing how soon Flagyl for diarrhea will work, to get an idea of how long they’ll have to continue dealing with it.

Metronidazole can come in 250mg, 500mg, 50mg and more for dogs. Ultimately, your vet will know the perfect dose to provide. Your vet will also be able to let you know how long you should give your dog metronidazole for.

How Does Metronidazole Work?

There are a couple of things that metronidazole does for your canine. To begin with, it’s able to stop the organisms invading your pet from either growing or creating new organisms, effectively halting that invasion from spreading.

In addition, it seeks out repair enzymes that are functioning in areas that are lacking oxygen. This can help in the process of treating infections of the central nervous system and damaged areas that don’t have a lot of oxygen circulation. Overall, it’s a medication that is known to be quite effective for a number of situations.

Dog Metronidazole Vs. Human Metronidazole

It’s important to keep in mind that like most medications intended for human use, it’s best to avoid giving metronidazole to dogs that wasn’t specifically prescribed to them by a vet. The vet will be able to provide dosing information that can keep your dog safe and healthy.

Metronidazole For Dogs Side Effects

Before using Metronidazole, it’s important to be aware of the side effects of metronidazole in dogs.

These side effects can include:

• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in urine
• Appetite loss
• Drooling
• Acute pancreatitis

While paralysis isn’t one of the common metronidazole side effects in dogs, it’s one that can be very severe when it is seen. Consequently, it’s a good one to be on the lookout for.

In some cases, pets can also experience an allergic reaction. When this occurs, dogs can show signs of rapid breathing, rashes or hives. Keep in mind that an allergic reaction can become life threatening, so make sure to get them to a vet if you notice these symptoms.

Pancreatitis is also a less common flagyl side effect, but it is one that can occur after prolonged use. This issue can effect other areas in the gastrointestinal system, so it’s worth watching out for.

Drug Interactions

Another important aspect to consider before using Metronidazole is how it may react with other medications your pet may be using. This even includes things like supplements and flea medications. You may never know what could react unpleasantly with Metronidazole, but your vet does!

Some of the medications that can create negative reactions when combined with Metronidazole are:

• Phenobarbital
• Cimetidine
• Warfarin

While Phenobarbital may not create harm for your dog when used with Metronidazole, it can negate the effects of it. As a result, your dog doesn’t get much relief from their illness.

Types Of Metronidazole For Dogs

Overall, metronidazole is the generic form of the medication. However, some brand names you may find connected to the same active ingredient are Flagyl, Protostat and Metrogel. If you want to know of any other alternatives, your vet will be likely to have that information.

Top Metronidazole For Dogs

The option that will be best for your dog is going to depend on their unique history and situation. For many dogs, metronidazole will work just fine. However pre-existing conditions and allergies can complicate matters. Your vet will have a clearer idea of what options are best for your pet.

Natural Metronidazole Options

While the options for medications that can do everything metronidazole can may be limited, you might be able to find some natural options that can help in the treatment of specific causes. This can really depend on what the cause is, as not all of them will be cured easily without medication.

One thing you can do to look into the possibility of a more natural treatment would be to visit a holistic vet, who can look over your animal as a whole. They will be able to provide a clearer idea of what will be best for your pet, and what natural supplements may be able to at least help, if not cure the problem.

CBD For Dogs

An option that is growing in popularity among those who want to keep prescriptions to a minimum is CBD. If you haven’t already heard of this great product, it’s one that has proven to be very useful among humans, assisting with pain, mood disorders, seizures and even the symptoms of cancer.

Furthermore, it’s an option that is natural, safe and works very well as a supplement even for dogs who are perfectly healthy. There are many benefits that are being discovered as scientists look deeper into everything that CBD can provide your pet.

CBD For Pain Relief

Among the other benefits it can provide, CBD is also able to assist in fighting the inflammation in the body, which means that pain can be lessened. This is highly useful whether your dog is fighting a stomach bug or simply dealing with the aches and pains that can come with old age.

On top of that, there is no “high” for dogs to experience with CBD. When the product is of high quality, there is no THC involved. Instead, pets get to remain their normal selves while receiving many different benefits to their health, making it easier to feel great!

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Top CBD Products

To best ensure that your pet gets all the benefits, it’s important to get quality products. Luckily, Innovet offers a number of fine products that are natural, safe and easy to provide for your pet. There are few reasons not to try out this fantastic supplement!

CBD Oil

When you want something that is very easy to dose, CBD oil for dogs is a fantastic option. It allows you to easily control every drop, allowing you to place it directly into their mouth or mix it into their food. You can even purchase a container with just the right dosage for the size of your pet, from cats all the way to horses!

CBD Treats

CBD dog treats are a great way to add to their health without having to worry about trying to get a pill down their throat. Instead, they get a delicious treat and you get the benefit of knowing that your dog has taken a very helpful supplement. With clear dosing information and fantastic flavors, giving your dog this product will be easy and perfectly safe.

Metronidazole For Dogs: The Bottom Line

We know it can be frightening when your canine companion isn’t feeling well. Luckily, there are medications available to help them get through even the nastiest stomach bugs!

Though they might come with side effects that leave your pet feeling less than great, sometimes those effects can’t be avoided. However, to help with preventing situations where your pet may need those medications, and to decrease the amount they may need, CBD is a great supplement.

Try out this great supplement, and see exactly what it can do for your beloved furry friend! Due to the natural, safe creation, you’re unlikely to find any negative side effects in it for your dog. Just benefits, health and a life that is much more enjoyable for them.

Sources:

• https://www.petrescuerx.com/index.cfm/product/159_50/metronidazole.cfm
• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/metronidazole-for-dogs/

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