ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/metronidazole
US brand names:Flagyl
Metronidazole is dosed at 20 mg/kg PO q48h for at least 7 days in ball pythons, per Mader's Table 127.4 Antiparasitic Agents, corpus p.1406 (printed 1196); Plumb's Metronidazole REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS, corpus p.903: '100 mg/kg PO repeated in 2 weeks or 50 mg/kg PO once daily for 3 to 5 days' — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Disrupts DNA structure in anaerobic organisms via reduction of nitro group, forming cytotoxic intermediates.
Neurotoxicity at high doses or prolonged use (ataxia, seizures). Avoid in pregnant animals. Hepatotoxic at high doses.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 50 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 10–15 mg/kg | q12h | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.902 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.873, Metronidazole monograph spanning p.873-876; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 10–15 mg/kg | q12h | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.902 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.873, Metronidazole monograph spanning p.873-876; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, |
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