Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Metronidazole is dosed at 10–15 mg/kg IV q12h in dogs, per 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. Metronidazole is used in dogs for Severe anaerobic infections, peritonitis, Anaerobic infections, Giardia, IBD, Hepatic encephalopathy adjunct, Clostridial infections, C. difficile colitis. Routes documented in dogs: IV, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Metronidazole in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Flagyl
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 10–15 mg/kg | q12h | Until oral feasible | Severe anaerobic infections, peritonitis | 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 |
| PO | 10–15 mg/kg | q12h | 5-7 days for Giardia; 14-28 days for IBD | Anaerobic infections, Giardia, IBD | 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 |
| PO | 7.5–10 mg/kg | q12h | Chronic as needed | Hepatic encephalopathy adjunct | Moderate | 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 |
| PO | 10–15 mg/kg | q8-12h | 10-14 days | Clostridial infections, C. difficile colitis | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Metronidazole, DOGS, 'Anaerobic infections (extra-label): a) For less severe anaerobic infections: 10 - 15 mg/kg PO every 8 to 12 hours', printed p.875 (corpus PDF p.902); corroborated by Papich, Metronidazole, Dogs: 'Anaerobes: 15 mg/kg q12h or 12 mg/kg q8h PO', printed p.526 (corpus PDF p.554) — 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5–25 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.279 | 7.5-25 mg/kg (standard dose 10-15 mg/kg) p.o. q12h. 10-15 mg/kg s.c., slow i.v. infusion q12h. In |
| 10–15 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.279 | 7.5-25 mg/kg (standard dose 10-15 mg/kg) p.o. q12h. 10-15 mg/kg s.c., slow i.v. infusion q12h. Injectable solution may |
| 10–15 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.279 | 7.5-25 mg/kg (standard dose 10-15 mg/kg) p.o. q12h. 10-15 mg/kg s.c., slow i.v. infusion q12h. Injectable solution may be given intrapleurally to tr |
| 15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Metronidazole dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 10–15 mg/kg q12h; PO 10–15 mg/kg q12h; PO 7.5–10 mg/kg q12h; PO 10–15 mg/kg q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Metronidazole in dogs: IV, PO.
Cited course lengths for Metronidazole in dogs include: Until oral feasible; 5-7 days for Giardia; 14-28 days for IBD; Chronic as needed; 10-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Metronidazole is indicated in dogs for: Severe anaerobic infections, peritonitis, Anaerobic infections, Giardia, IBD, Hepatic encephalopathy adjunct, Clostridial infections, C. difficile colitis.
These are general warnings for Metronidazole across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Neurotoxicity at high doses or prolonged use (ataxia, seizures). Avoid in pregnant animals. Hepatotoxic at high doses.
Why a species-specific page? Metronidazole pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| • Anaerobes: 15 mg/kg q12h or 12 mg/kg q8h PO. |
| 12 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.554 | • Anaerobes: 15 mg/kg q12h or 12 mg/kg q8h PO. |
| 15 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.554 | • Anaerobes: IV dose: 15 mg/kg IV via slow infusion in a diluted form. |
| 12–15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.554 | • Giardia: 12-15 mg/kg q12h for 8 days PO. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.