Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Metronidazole is dosed at 15–25 mg/kg PO q12h in horses, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed — Metronidazole, HORSES, printed p.876 (corpus PDF p.903): 'Metritis secondary to Bacteroides fragilis (extra-label): 15 - 25 mg/kg PO every 12 hours'. Metronidazole is used in horses for Anaerobic infections, Clostridial colitis, Clostridial infection, anaerobic infection. Routes documented in horses: PO. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Metronidazole in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Flagyl
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 15–25 mg/kg | q12h | 7-10 days | Anaerobic infections, Clostridial colitis | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed — Metronidazole, HORSES, printed p.876 (corpus PDF p.903): 'Metritis secondary to Bacteroides fragilis (extra-label): 15 - 25 mg/kg PO every 12 hours' |
| PO | 15–25 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Clostridial infection, anaerobic infection | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed — Metronidazole, HORSES, printed p.876 (corpus PDF p.903): 'Metritis secondary to Bacteroides fragilis (extra-label): 15 - 25 mg/kg PO every 12 hours' |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse'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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Metronidazole dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: PO 15–25 mg/kg q12h; PO 15–25 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Metronidazole in horses: PO.
Cited course lengths for Metronidazole in horses include: 7-10 days; 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Metronidazole is indicated in horses for: Anaerobic infections, Clostridial colitis, Clostridial infection, anaerobic infection.
These are general warnings for Metronidazole across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.