My 12 year old Shih-Tsu began high fevers with no other symptoms. He was hospitalized 3 times for days of fluids and lots of medications. He was put on metronidazole for an unknown infection that caused his liver enzymes to elevate. After a week he was doing better but upon completing his prescription we noticed lethargy, confusion, back legs could not hold him up, walking in circles, and staring at walls. We had to feed him by hand and use a syringe for fluids. He has been prescribed 2 types of blood pressure medication and something for cognitive dysfunction. He has improved in that he can now walk (albeit very wobbly) and is now able to eat and drink on his own. He continues to walk in circles and appears not to know us or be able to see us unless we are very close to him. I'm not sure he will ever be the same. Very sad and confused.

I am, a dog exibitor/ breeder/ groomer of 40 years experience. I,m very used to loking at all types of dog. My breed is pointers. 5 years ago, after whelping/spey, my then exceptionally strong healthy 3 old bitch, Alice started with bile-type vomit/bloody diarrhoea.The poo looked like cranberry jelly and there was alot of it. Other than that she seemed ok, and was fasted for 24 hours, and recovered well. No reocurrance immediately.. .. The it repeated, and repeated. Vet did lots of tests, including opening her up, examining her guts and biopsies- results were nil!. In between bouts she was well and ebergetic. Eventually she was treated with Metridaznole. Within hours she was lethargic, not eating.She saw vet and she was admitted onto a drip for 24 hours, which seemed to improve her. However by the next day she had gone down again, so back to vet and the drip. up again, came home and down overnight.During her time at home she was with me on the settee full time. She didn't eat, had to be syringed with water., was very unsteady on her feet, and totally disorientated/ confused. When taken outside to pee, she stood vaguely looking about not recognising what she had to do or where she was. After 5 days of daytime at vets on drip and home at night,when both the vet and myself agreed we were losing this battle, I suddenly had a wake up call- I googled the drug- Dear God why hadn't I done that sooner! Its all there. I stopped dosing her immediately. spoke with my vet , who agreed my course of action and waited... Within 24 hours she was begining to recover. In no way do I blame my vet who was and is excellent. He had never experienced a dog reacting to this drug. Alice is now 8 years old. You could say fit and well. We had her food allergy tested 18 months ago, and she reacts to dairy , potatoes and rabbit. She is not given these, but still continues to have periodic bouts of cranberry jelly poo. On these days she looks miserable, her eyewhites seem a little inflamed, and she sensibly refuses all food, but still wants to execise with the others (but isn't allowed to!). She sees the vet from time to time, bit we have yet to come up with an explanation for the condition. My advice to anyone thinking of using Metrodizanol on their dogs- be very careful. If you have ANY adverse reactions- STOP Immediately- don't wait for it to go wrong. Its too late then I So very nearly lost ALice. This drug is not licensed for animal use, maybe it should be withdrawn from animal use. I wonder what is the legal position ?

My 11 pound dog had 5 doses of metronidazole (1/2 250 mg 2x per day). He was prescribed this for 10 days. After the 5th dose, he stopped eating (even on Thanksgiving!) and will not even drink water on his own. He still is somewhat playful - he has spurts of energy - and he is excited about going outside on a leash. My vet won't be open until Monday and it's only Friday.

My 83 lb Lab was treated with Flagyl 500 mg 2x day. I could never actually get her to take the 2 within a 24 hour period, which I thank God for now. She was being treated for giardia. She had already been somewhat lethargic but had some playful moments, however on about day 5 of the meds, I noticed she couldn’t quite get comfortable, seemed miserable. She was laying down in places she never laid down, pacing, and seemed really confused. Last night she got worse with these symptoms and refused to stay anywhere more than a minute (literally) I got her in the bed and shut the bedroom door and just held her and rocked her in the bed laying beside her for a good hour. I gave her some children’s benedryl and that helped take the edge off as well. It was after the 1 hour of holding that I was able to break loose to give it to her. Also, her appetite has been horrible so I’ve been feeding her anything she would eat, which was turkey franks. She normally always wants a bite of popsicle but wouldn’t even eat that. Tonight she is better somewhat...no more jumping down every minute, but still weirdo acting. I am pushing pedialyte via syring in mouth, and she drinks some too. We are in a location that it’s impossible to get to a vet before Friday. Is there anything else I can do to help get this medication out of her system? Thank you.