Flagyl question

mewlittle

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
1,633
Purraise
127
Location
usa
My cat Marty got prescribed Flagyl for 7 days for diarrheal issues

how long after taking the flagyl for it to work? and if it does get ride of the diarrhea will he continue to have normal stools after stopping the Flagyl if not how long would he have to take it for?

I have a gut feeling it will help him but he be on it for a long time
 

molly92

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
1,689
Purraise
1,565
Location
Michigan
It depends on what is causing the diarrhea. It can start working within a day, or take longer. Flagyl will kill some common parasites that cause diarrhea, like giardia. There are many different strains, though, and some of them are more resistant to certain medications, so in that case it can take a couple rounds of treatment before the parasite is wiped out. (Make sure you give the entire prescribed dose even if Marty starts feeling better to reduce the chance of resistant strains thriving.) 

Or, your cat may not have giardia, but flagyl could still reduce symptoms because it has antibiotic properties and your cat could have inflammation that is making things worse. 

If diarrhea do not respond the the flagyl at all, he may have a different parasite and need a different medication. Or there is some other underlying issue, but most of those come with inflammation so flagyl helps at least a little.

Because it is an antibiotic, it's not a medication that should be used long term, just as needed. It also might be a good idea to try probiotics to replenish his good gut bacteria after the flagyl is done, and probiotics also help with many cases of diarrhea, so that's something to ask your vet about.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

mewlittle

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
1,633
Purraise
127
Location
usa
 
It depends on what is causing the diarrhea. It can start working within a day, or take longer. Flagyl will kill some common parasites that cause diarrhea, like giardia. There are many different strains, though, and some of them are more resistant to certain medications, so in that case it can take a couple rounds of treatment before the parasite is wiped out. (Make sure you give the entire prescribed dose even if Marty starts feeling better to reduce the chance of resistant strains thriving.) 

Or, your cat may not have giardia, but flagyl could still reduce symptoms because it has antibiotic properties and your cat could have inflammation that is making things worse. 

If diarrhea do not respond the the flagyl at all, he may have a different parasite and need a different medication. Or there is some other underlying issue, but most of those come with inflammation so flagyl helps at least a little.

Because it is an antibiotic, it's not a medication that should be used long term, just as needed. It also might be a good idea to try probiotics to replenish his good gut bacteria after the flagyl is done, and probiotics also help with many cases of diarrhea, so that's something to ask your vet about.
He been taking probiotics and it dont seem to be helping the vet said he isnt absorbing any nutrients at all also the vet gave him a dewormer drontal just to be on the safe side so if the flagyl and the drontal doesnt get ride of the diarrhea it could be a different parasite or something else
 
Top