My cat has a mass, IBD. Should I stop Flagyl and keep Prednisolone?

It could be that the diarrhea worsening is independent of the metronidazole as this drug does not help all cases of diarrhea, dependent on the cause. But since it is new it would be best to stop until you can speak with your vet. Has your kitty had a work up for these symptoms? Chronic vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of several things, but most notably GI disease. It would be abnormal for a cat to need chronic medication for vomiting unless there is a disease process there. Just to help a little, a work up for an older kitty with these signs could include bloodwork with thyroid testing, an abdominal ultrasound, and sampling if needed (dependent on ultrasound). If there is an underlying disease that can be treated your kitty may feel better and need less medications eventually. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, thank you for your question about Tony. Flagyl (metronidazole) is an anti-diarrheal medication that also has antibiotic/antiparasitic properties. The side effects that you found such as decreased appetite and diarrhea are usually associated with these properties. In general these side effects are less likely and the benefit of giving the Flagyl. I would recommend continuing the Flagyl as directed. Additionally you could offer Tony a bland more palatable diet. Some options include a canned food diet that is designed for GI health. You could also try home cooking food such as boiled chicken/hamburger. If Tony's inappetance continues I would recommend having him rechecked by your veterinarian for further evaluation and diagnostic workup. Hope this helps, good luck!

Typically cats get really bad vomiting episodes with IBD and occasional diarrhea. The prednisone likely is treating for inflammation or an immune mediated condition of the gut, which can include lymphoma, IBD, or a condition called lymphocytic plasmocytic colitis. At any rate, if the prednisone is helping, then I would continue with therapy as indicated. A lot of the times you can only get a final diagnosis with gut diseases by having a surgical biopsy taken of the intesines. As you can imagine this is a very invasive procedure, so response to therapy is typically the route we taken when making suspected diagnoses. I would also highly consider getting Beau on a hypoallergenic diet to help make it easy for her gut to digest food. My top picks here are Royal Canin hypoallergeic hydrolyzed protein, Hill's Z/D, OR Royal Canin Selected protein (rabbit/potato). Ask your vet for a prescription if interested! I hope this helps and best wishes with your pet Beau and her chronic loose stools. Take care.

Without seeing Z in person, I can't say what is the best course of treatment for him. I'd trust your vet's decision, but if you do have questions, you can always take him into another vet for a second opinion.

Prednisone can absolutely cause behavior changes and mood alterations. The side effects are usually at their greatest during the first two to four week of therapy as the body grows accustomed to glucocorticoid drugs. The metronidazole is not likely a cause of any side effects you are currently seeing. If you are consulting with a oncologist regarding Pepe's case, do not hesitate to contact them with any questions involving his therapy. These cases can often be complex and require a lot of special attention to drug interactions. Anyway, if you require further consultation please let me know. Hope this makes sense.

Hello, sorry to hear about Magic. This medication is occasionally given long term and is generally a safe medication. It is originally an antibiotic with some anti-diarrhea and anti-inflammatory properties. Typically, for diarrhea this medication is given for up to 10 days then discontinued. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It would not be a good idea to stop metronidazole now and the symptoms may come back. Please, complete 5 days of treatment and then double-check with your vet that it is ok to stop the medication. The dose of metronidazole Leo was prescribed is ok (100mg every 12hrs).