It is always scary to give some medicine to pets, but do not worry in this case you will discover everything about the metronidazole dose in dogs, so that mistakes are not made that harm the dog, read until the end to avoid inconveniences.
What is Metronidazole for dogs?
Throughout the dog's life it will surely suffer from a digestive disorder, more than anything in the puppy stage, this is because they want to bite and eat everything; For this there is a wide variety of medicines that help to feel great stomach relief, however, the one that veterinarians use and recommend the most is metronidazole due to its great effectiveness.
This medicine can also be called Flagyl, it works as an antibiotic, but also as an anti-protozoal. Its functionality lies in how it is composed, acting on the animal's DNA so that parasites and bacteria cannot spread throughout the body.
If the amount of these in the body is reduced, then the discomfort and symptoms will also decrease.
It is important to note that you must be very clear about the dose that you must give your pet, how many times you must give it in the day and for how long, if when the doctor explained it to you it was not very clear, do not hesitate to ask again , since an excess or a decrease in the dose could cause serious damage to your body.
What is metronidazole used for?
As already indicated in the previous segment, this medicine is used to attack bacteria, viruses, protozoa and some parasites, however, because it serves as an anti-inflammatory it can also be administered in order to reduce or eliminate conditions of the inflamed intestine as well as when parasites appear in it, reducing the diarrhea they generate.
These are not the only conditions that can be treated with this medicine, but it can be administered to attack bone ailments, since it has the ability to penetrate them, solving periodontal, oral and tooth conditions, in other words, Metronidazole is used to deworm.
It can also decrease inflammation that occurs in the large intestine so that the abdomen decreases in swelling. And last, but not least, is the fact that it acts as an insulator for the brain from everything that circulates through the bloodstream, thanks to this it works for infections that occur in the central nervous system.
Shot metronidazole for dogs
The most common is that the dose that veterinarians select for dogs is 5-20 milligrams for each kilo that the pet has, that is, if your dog weighs three kilos you will have to multiply that amount by the medicine, if you have a feline ask your doctor about metronidazole for cats.
Depending on the case in which the dog is found, this medicine will be supplied every twelve or every twenty-four hours, this will be established by the doctor once he has carefully evaluated it, that is, this will depend on the Characteristics of dogs, but as long as it is every twelve hours the dose will be lower due to the frequency with which it is administered.
It is usual that this is administered by vein or sometimes orally, this will depend on the condition that is afflicting your pet and how serious it is.
As in humans, doses for dogs must be taken very seriously, following each of the instructions mentioned by the veterinarian is a fundamental element to avoid complicating the dog and allow his improvement to occur quickly.
If the time in which you should give the medicine has passed, as soon as you remember it you should give it unless it is very close to the next dose, when this happens you should ignore one of the two, otherwise you could cause an overdose .
How and when to use Metronidazole in dogs?
It is used at times when the doctor notices the presence of anaerobic bacteria, with the intention of eliminating infections; this occurs in both dogs and humans, but it is not given at the same dose, so comparison on that particular aspect should be avoided.
This type of bacteria reproduces more efficiently in cases where there is a lack of free oxygen, such as in cases where there are punctures in the skin, but also in the mouth, in the gums, where the bone can be seen through extremely deep wounds. and more.
They are mostly bacteria that are inside the dog without altering its daily life, but the alteration occurs once an external agent to the body generates an imbalance so they begin to invade the tissues, so that is how infections begin and if they are not treated in time, tissue death could occur.
Metronidazole Administration
All medicines have a mechanism of action, in the case of the treatment in question, it acts by unbalancing the hecoloidal structure that DNA has. Therefore, it suppresses the binding of core acids.
The bacteria that are afflicting the body capture the presence of the treatment due to their ability to change this medicine intracellularly and make it active again. That is why its administration lies in the appearance of lesions on the skin, in the urogenital apparatus, in the throat and in the mouth.
It is important to point out that, although it is used for diarrhea, it is not for any cause of this, so it is always necessary to consult and carry out conclusive tests that determine if there are really parasites in the intestine that are causing the diarrhea, and they can be watch guards when the dog relieves itself.
Ticks can also be the ones that cause the spread of infections, so all those possibilities need to be ruled out as well.
efectos secundarios
You should always be aware of the side effects that this or any other medication could cause in your pet, since they tend to occur just as they do in humans.
If you observe any of these symptoms that are mentioned below, do not hesitate to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible, since it may be that your dog is allergic to this or one of its components and that you should stop giving it or reduce the dose.
1-. It can generate depression, affections in their extremities, seizures could occur, but not only this but also they could have paralysis in their legs, although the latter is usually less frequent, but you should also be attentive to any sign that indicates these neurological effects.
two-. You could also witness skin allergies, shortness of breath and rashes, which often cause you a lot of discomfort.
3-. His urine has traces of blood, he is drooling more than usual and he is not eating as she usually did, it could also mean that the medicine is causing damage.
4-. Diarrhea and vomiting when the medication is consumed, so it is most commonly administered after the pet has already eaten.
Contraindications of metronidazole for dogs
But in addition to the side effects already mentioned, you should also keep in mind the contraindications of this medicine, such as the following:
1-. It is contraindicated for bitches that are pregnant and for those that are lactating, because this could cause problems in the offspring, to clear up doubts and know when you can give this medicine to your pet, ask the veterinarian how long is a bitch pregnant?
two-. Dogs with kidney conditions should not be administered with this medicine, as well as those with liver conditions, because there have been cases in which greater inconveniences have been generated.
If your dog has had an overdose, it may present the following symptoms:
- Blurred vision, even complete loss of vision
- He is very tired
- He is not hungry
- Shakes a lot and/or has seizures
- Does not coordinate their movements
- His eyes move strangely
- drooling a lot
In any of the cases, quickly call the veterinarian and follow his instructions to the letter and in extreme cases you should go to the office to be treated by specialists quickly.
Final Items to Consider
You have to be sure that the dog does not have conditions related to hypersensitivity, since in these cases the treatment in question cannot be administered. As when you have liver conditions or have already had an allergy to this medicine or one of its components.
If the dog is pregnant and it is necessary to administer this medicine, it should always be done under full supervision by the specialist.
It is not usual for the mentioned side effects to appear, but it is necessary to act immediately when they appear.