Pocket Pet · Cavia porcellus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.20 kg
Metronidazole is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg PO q12h (or 40 mg/kg q24h) in guinea pigs, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., rodent antiparasitic/antimicrobial table, p.778 (corpus PDF), Metronidazole row, superscript 122 → Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B: Exotic Pets, BSAVA, 2015. Metronidazole is used in guinea pigs for Anaerobic infections when oral not feasible, Anaerobic infections, Giardia, anaerobic infections. Routes documented in guinea pigs: PO. A typical adult guinea pig weighs 0.70–1.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Metronidazole in guinea pigs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Flagyl
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10–20 mg/kg | q12h (or 40 mg/kg q24h) | 5-7 days | Anaerobic infections when oral not feasible | Extrapolated | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., rodent antiparasitic/antimicrobial table, p.778 (corpus PDF), Metronidazole row, superscript 122 → Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B: Exotic Pets, BSAVA, 2015 |
| PO | 20 mg/kg | q12h | 5-7 days | Anaerobic infections | Moderate | Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.778 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 20–25 mg/kg | q12h | 5-7 days | Giardia, anaerobic infections | Moderate | Beck W, Pantchev N. Praktische Parasitologie bei Heimtieren, Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft MBH & Co, Hannover, Germany; 2006. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.778 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your guinea pig'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 guinea pigs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Metronidazole dose ranges in guinea pigs, with cited source references: PO 10–20 mg/kg q12h (or 40 mg/kg q24h); PO 20 mg/kg q12h; PO 20–25 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Metronidazole in guinea pigs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Metronidazole in guinea pigs include: 5-7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Metronidazole is indicated in guinea pigs for: Anaerobic infections when oral not feasible, Anaerobic infections, Giardia, anaerobic infections.
These are general warnings for Metronidazole across species; consult the guinea pig 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 guinea pigs — 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.