My dog barely ate. Can I still give her metronidazole for Giardia?

This is very difficult to assess fully but metronidazole is generally considered more likely to result inn stomach upsets. Probiotics are very helpful after a course of antibiotics but are less effective if given alongside. Your vet should be able to confirm the risks and benefits of stopping treatment early given possible side effects

I'm sorry to hear that Nicco hasn't been feeling well, but I'm glad to hear that you've already sought veterinary care. It is most commonly recommended to give antibiotics with food since this will lessen the chance of developing an upset stomach with vomiting and diarrhea as a side effect of the antibiotics. In this case, however, Nicco is already having diarrhea and experiencing a loss of appetite. It should be just fine to give him the antibiotics (metronidazole or Flagyl, I assume, given the bloody diarrhea) without food until he is eating normally again. You can also ask your vet about offering Nicco a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice since he is refusing to eat the Royal Canin gastrointestinal low fat diet. If your veterinarian approves this plan, a typical rule of thumb is to feed 1 cup of a 50:50 chicken/rice mixture for every 10 pounds of body weight per day, divided into 3-4 smaller meals. If Nicco is still refusing to eat, experiencing bloody diarrhea, or begins to vomit by tomorrow, I recommend calling your vet since he may need to be reevaluated with additional diagnostic testing or supportive treatments. I hope this helps and that Nicco feels better soon!

Oh no, it's not good that Bella ate the metronidazole tablet! There is a wide range of doses for metronidazole for dogs depending on the condition being treated, and at her weight and the dose she ate, the tablet is within the range of doses. It's on the higher end, but still within the dose range. That being said, you could see some side effects from eating this medication, such as GI upset. Excessive salivation, gagging, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite are the most common side effects seen. If you see any of those signs, withhold food for 8-12 hours, then feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. Rarely you can see neurological disorders from an accidental overdose, but she likely may not show these signs due to her not overdosing. It's just something I will mention you should be aware of, and if you see anything concerning or she won't stop vomiting, won't eat the bland diet, and/or becomes very lethargic, take her into a vet right away. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Peggy has a large worm burden (lots of worms) then she likely feels sick and doesn't want to eat, and likely won't want to eat until the worms are gone. If the medication that your vet gave is a dewormer (typically a liquid called Panacur/Fenbendazole), then you can give it without food. This might clear out the worms and get Peggy eating again. If the medication is an antibiotic (Metronidazole, Amoxyclav), then this needs to be given with food. You can also talk to your vet about trying an anti-nausea medication to see if this helps with the appetite. If Peggy has abdominal pain, or is vomiting, please have her seen right away as high worm burdens can lead to a very life-threatening condition called intussusception. Best of luck with Peggy, I hope she feels 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.

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.

Lethargy (loss of energy) following a dose of metronidazloe is a sign of a possible drug reaction. Her biting everything could be a sign of discomfort? This is quite an unusual symptom, so it is hard to say for sure. Most of the time a reaction to Metronidazole involves any of the following: neurological symptoms (i.e. seizure, head tilt, etc), stomach upset (vomiting and or diarrhea) and lethargy. I would suggests calling your vet in the morning to ask if the medication should be continued. They likely will have you stop the medication and try an alternative one. Also, I would make sure you are giving this medication with a full meal, to reduce adverse reactions. I hope that everything works out well for your pet Daisy. Best wishes and take care.