ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/secnidazole
US brand names:Flagentyl, Solosec
Secnidazole is dosed at 20–30 mg/kg PO Single dose in cats, per Da Silva AS, Castro VSP, Tonin AA, Brendler A, Costa MM, Jaques JA, Bertoletti B, Zanette RA, Raiser AG, Mazzanti CM, Lopes STA, Montiero SG. (2011). Secnidazole for the treatment of giardiasis in naturally infected cats. Parasitol Int. 60, 429-432. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2011.06.024 — Verified against Riviere & Papich, Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 10th Ed, p.1159 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE UNVERIFIABLE 2026-08-07: the cited book (Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (held: 4th ed, 2016)) does not contain this drug anywhere in the held copy. The reference cannot be confirmed here and the page, if any, is unchecked. It is deliberately NOT re-pointed at another text that does mention the molecule — that would assert a provenance this dose never had. Confirm against the source directly before use. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855; Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics — ISBN 9781118855829, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781118855829. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
5-nitroimidazole prodrug reduced by anaerobic organisms to cytotoxic metabolites that damage DNA and inhibit nucleic acid synthesis.
Longer half-life than metronidazole allows single-dose protocols. Avoid in animals with known nitroimidazole hypersensitivity. Neurotoxicity at high doses.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugs
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A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 20–30 mg/kg | Single dose | Weak | Da Silva AS, Castro VSP, Tonin AA, Brendler A, Costa MM, Jaques JA, Bertoletti B, Zanette RA, Raiser AG, Mazzanti CM, Lopes STA, Montiero SG. (2011). Secnidazole for the treatment of giardiasis in naturally infected cats. Parasitol Int. 60, 429-432. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2011.06.024 — Verified against Riviere & Papich, Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 10th Ed, p.1159 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE UNVERIFIABLE 2026-08-07: the cited book (Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (held: 4th ed, 2016)) does not contain this drug anywhere in the held copy. The reference cannot be confirmed here and the page, if any, is unchecked. It is deliberately NOT re-pointed at another text that does mention the molecule — that would assert a provenance this dose never had. Confirm against the source directly before use. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855; Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics — ISBN 9781118855829, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781118855829 |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.