Putative Metronidazole Neurotoxicosis in a Cat - Veterinary Pathology September 2005 vol. 42 no. 5 665-669
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...ionid=10A9E24AF413556339009C8B7849E5AC.f03t03
For more information:
Metronidazole: beware of neurotoxic side effects http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=572
Metronidazole: Uses, toxicity and management of neurologic sequllae http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=113198
Treatment of Metronidazole toxicity http://www.vetlearn.com/standards-of-care/treatment-of-metronidazole-toxicity (You have to sign up to sign in, but it's free)
Metronidazole Toxicity: Prevention and Treatment: http://www.vetneuro.com/Resources/Reference/NeuroNews/eNewsletterApril2010/tabid/9024/Default.aspx
Bold, my emphasisMetronidazole (Flagyl, G. D. Searle & Co., Chicago, IL) is a nitroimidazole antibiotic that is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions, including anaerobic bacterial infections,10,17 protozoal infections (e.g., giardiasis),10,17 Helicobacter-associated gastritis,15,22 and hepatoencephalopathy.17,23,24 In addition to its anti-protozoal and bactericidal properties, metronidazole is thought to have some immunomodulatory effects and is commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in both dogs and cats.10,17 The drug is lipophilic and has a wide tissue distribution with oral bioavailability ranges from 50 to 100%.8,17 Metronidazole is primarily metabolized in the liver and has been shown to rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier.7,10 Another study using 14C-labeled metronidazole detected accumulation of the unchanged drug in the cerebellum and hippocampal areas of mice after intravenous (IV) administration.16 Central nervous system (CNS) side effects associated with metronidazole toxicosis have been reported in humans2,9,11–14 and in veterinary species, including rats,19 dogs,5,6,8,21,25 and cats.4,20 Peripheral neuropathies are frequently reported in human cases of metronidazole toxicosis; however, nausea, dizziness, tremors, ataxia, and seizures have also been reported. In dogs and cats, central vestibular and cerebellar dysfunctions resulting in ataxia, nystagmus, head tilt, tremors, and seizures are commonly reported in cases of metronidazole toxicosis.10 To our knowledge, this is the first report to document histologic lesions in the CNS associated with metronidazole administration in a cat.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...ionid=10A9E24AF413556339009C8B7849E5AC.f03t03
For more information:
Metronidazole: beware of neurotoxic side effects http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=572
Metronidazole: Uses, toxicity and management of neurologic sequllae http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=113198
Treatment of Metronidazole toxicity http://www.vetlearn.com/standards-of-care/treatment-of-metronidazole-toxicity (You have to sign up to sign in, but it's free)
Metronidazole Toxicity: Prevention and Treatment: http://www.vetneuro.com/Resources/Reference/NeuroNews/eNewsletterApril2010/tabid/9024/Default.aspx
Again, bold my emphasis. This article has links to video clips of dogs with metro toxicosis.Metronidazole has long been used in veterinary medicine as an antibiotic to treat many infectious diseases in dogs and cats. Neurotoxicity can occur from acute overdoses or even from "recommended" doses in animals on chronic therapy. Cats and small dogs may be more susceptible to acute overdoses. Common strengths for metronidazole are 500 mg and 250 mg tablets. Even a quarter of a 250 mg tablet given twice daily to a 10 pound dog has the potential to cause neurological signs.