My dogs have diarrhea. Is it contagious? Can my dog take metro again?

It definitely seems like an infection was the initial cause of the diarrhea and was well-controlled with the metronidazole. Anytime we treat for infection, we change the environment of the gut flora and it's not unusual for it to take some time for things to get back to normal after the antibiotics have been discontinued. It's also possible for the infection to return if not treated for long enough, or if the most appropriate antibiotic was not used. An increase in mucous tells me that there are issues within the colon where most fermentation by normal gut bacteria takes place. If the stools are still somewhat normal appearing (besides the excess mucous) and Giardia has been ruled-out as a cause, then I would wait a few days to see if things return to normal. You may consider adding probiotics to their diet if also advised by your veterinarian. I hope this helps and Bella and Pepper get better soon.

Poor Paloma! I would recommend a vet visit for her because she has had diarrhea for over a week and the bland diet has not worked. No, do not give her the metronidazole. Drugs prescribed for another dog should never be given, as it may be the wrong drug for the cause of her diarrhea and the wrong dose. It has reached the point where veterinary care is needed for this issues, and I would call your vet today to set up an appointment for her as soon as possible. Best of luck.

Hi and thanks for your question. If the diarrhea starts again after the metronidazole, it could any number of issues. If she was diagnosed with a parasite, like Giardia, or a bacteria, it could be she still has the parasite or bacterial present in her GI and will need another round of metronidazole. That is not totally uncommon. A viral infection may be another possibility as well as a food allergy or inflammatory bowel disease. I hope this helped!

Some dogs that have an underlying disease like inflammatory bowel disease do need long term antibiotic use, but it is best to have a diagnosis before continuing medications long term for two reasons: one is that antibiotic usage can sometimes mask the underlying problem, and the other is that there can be effects on the gastrointestinal flora. There are many diseases that could cause chronic diarrhea including a food intolerance, pancreatitis, or inflammatory bowel disease as stated above. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if other tests or treatments are recommended at this point to try to diagnose the problem - some additional tests might include a pancreatic lipase test, cobalamin/folate, abdominal ultrasound or even obtaining intestinal biopsy samples to try to determine what might be causing chronic diarrhea. You might also want to talk to your veterinarian about a hypoallergenic food trial.

It would be best to consult with your veterinarian before changing treatment or giving other medications. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending medications or dosing information in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship. You can try withholding food for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage. Resume feeding a bland diet in small frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Transition slowly to the regular diet afterwards. A stool sample should be submitted to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. A veterinary probiotic such as Prostora, FortiFlora or ProViable may promote gut health.

Hi! I would say that it is likely ok. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to see results. If it is just soft and Snowball is otherwise fine, I would just give it a few days before getting concerned. Keep in mind that metronidazole is not always a curative medication for diarrhea but rather an antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties that help with colitis. This means that it will not treat an underlying disease every time. Perhaps try a few days on a bland diet mostly composed of boiled chicken or turkey and rice. If no resolution within a few days, it may be appropriate to start her on a probiotic or try a different medication such as Tylosin. Best of luck with her!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Yes, metronidazole can cause diarrhea. If you are seeing diarrhea or vomiting while on this antibiotic I would recommend discontinuing the drug and contacting the prescribing veterinarian to discuss this further. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I would add in a probiotics such as Purina fortiflora as well.