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Metronidazole For Diarrhea

My 2.5 year old Aussie has diarrhea of unknown origin. A veterinarian wants to give her metronidazole. I have read about it online, and there are some possible side-effects that are not to be taken lightly. Have any of you had experience using this for diarrhea in your Aussies? Thanks!

Comments for Metronidazole For Diarrhea

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My dog was on metronidazole
by: Anonymous

My dog was on metronidazole off and on for a couple years until they figured out he had a food allergy to beef or chicken. So we put him on fish/salmon and sweet potato diet by Natural Balance, you can get it at Petco. In his later years he had a lot of pancreatic problems but he was on many different medications for neurological issues which resulted in what they thought to be a brain tumor. Just thought you might want to know the whole history. ?? I would definitely try the salmon sweet potato. I have my aussie and border collie pups on it and they love it! : )

imodium
by: Kareb

We used Imodium when our male aussie had diarrhea. It worked well and it's probably cheaper than what the vet would charge. It may be food allergies, try eliminating or changing the type of food. Our puppy cleared up when we switched to lamb and rice. Good luck.

metronidazole and MDR1
by: jcrply

I discovered that Metronidazole (FLAGYL) is on the list of drugs that should never be given to a dog with the MDR1 gene. Unfortunately I do not know if my Aussie has the gene. I am kicking myself because I have one of the kits and just haven't sent it off yet. I am trying to control the diarrhea with diet but not doing so well.
I thought it was just ivermectin that we needed to avoid, but there are quite a few meds to avoid.
Here are links to two sites that have the list:

http://www.laboklin.co.uk/laboklin/showGeneticTest.jsp?testID=8032

http://www.karibunicollies.com/home/mdr1

and here is a comment from a post to an Aussie Rescue:

http://aussierescuesa.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/mdr1-dangerous-drugs-for-our-aussies/

Anyone have any suggestions regarding treating the diarrhea with or without other drugs?? Thanks.

Metronidazole for Diarrhea
by: Anonymous

I agree with the person who said to change her diet and that dog food that she recommended is very good. Change diet and then see about the medication.

Imodium Should Not Be Given To Dogs With MDR1 Mutation
by: Anton

"Loperamide (ImodiumTM; antidiarrheal agent). At doses used to treat diarrhea, this drug will cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation. This drug should be avoided in all dogs with the MDR1 mutation."

Here is another link with info about other drugs that can seriously (even fatally) affect dogs with the MDR1 mutation.

Problem drugs for dogs with MDR1 mutation.

Flagyl
by: gayle--big run aussies

Please don't ever give your dog any kind of medication without consulting your vet. Thanks, Anton, for your educated comments. All Aussies should be tested for the MDR1 gene, unless they have been cleared by parentage. It can save their lives and a heartache for you. Yes, it is expensive, but well worth the price. A shocking 50% of Aussies carry this gene, so the chance of your dog carrying it is quite high.
Pumpkin is good for diarrhea, rice and chicken are easy on digestion. Acidophilus-- like Culturelle-- is natural and can help as can fiber like pumpkin, squash and Benefiber. But, again, please contact your vet about over the counter meds that we might think are harmless.

Sudden death after taking flagyl
by: Anonymous

My loving companion, Shelby, just died yesterday after a sudden seizure of 'unknown origin'. After my research this evening I think I have found out what happened. She wasn't feeling well last week (diarrhea and vomiting) so I took her to the vet. They gave her an injection to control the nausea and gave her flagyl for the diarrhea. I suspect she had the MDR1 gene and should have never been given flagyl. My heart is broken....please don't give your Australian Shepherd flagyl or Immodium ever!

Metronidazole is not on the MDR1 list
by: Anonymous

This is the website for Washington State CVM, they do our MDR1 testing for suspect dogs. Please use this list rather than listening to anecdotal stories from others about how to or not medicate your pets.

Always adhere to veterinary advice rather than Dr. Google...

Drugs NOT for Aussies
by: Mary J Shaffer

Acepromazine** Aldosterone Amitriptyline Antiemetics Apomorphine* Buprenorphine Butorphanol** Chinidin Cimeditine Cortisol Cyclosporin A Dexamethasone Digoxin
Diltiazem Domperidone Doxorubicin** Doxycycline Ebastine
Erythromycin Estradiol Etoposide Fentanyl Fexofenadine Grepafloxacin Hydrocortisone Ivermectin**
Itraconazole Ketoconazole Loperamide** Losartan Methylprednisolone Metoclopramide Metronidazole Milbemycin** Mitoxantrone Morphine Moxidectin** Ondansetron Paclitaxel**
Phenothiazines Phenytoin Quinidine Ranitidine Rifampin Rifamicin Selamectin** Sparfloxacin Tacrolimus Tetracycline Verapamil Vinblastine** Vincristine**
Please Note: Not every Australian Shepherd will have a negative or deadly reaction to the drugs listed above. However enough of them have had severe reactions and/or died to warrant caution. YOU must be an advocate for your Australian Shepherd.

diet
by: jcrply

What has worked for my Aussie is very lightly cooked (rare) ground turkey and canned plain pumpkin (small amount). To this I add vitamins and minerals... calcium from ground eggshells. One can of sardines a week (doled out a little at a time each day). I don't like the lack of variety, but this stops her liquidy diarrhea.

Grateful
by: Anonymous

Hello, I am the woman who's dog, Shelby suddenly died. I am grateful that I found this informative site using "Dr. Google". Thank you Anton, Mary, Jcrply for sharing your knowledge. Thank you, Mary for that extensive list of drugs not to give an Aussie. It is similar to what I found doing my research. I think it's important to note that not all vets have time, energy nor the interest to specialize in 'sensitive' breeds whether they have the MDR1 mutation or not. It is always good to consult one's vet, but let's not leave it in their hands. I have a friend who's Aussie (MDR1 normal) died after a routine neuter due to being sensitive to regular anesthesia protocol most vets follow. Difficult way to find that out. I agree, it is up to us to be proactive and take initiative to do what's best for our pets/loved ones. After Shelby died, I took it upon myself to find a vet who does specialize so I feel comfortable in his knowledge and educating myself as well. Peace and blessings to you all!

To Shelbys Mom
by: Mary

An Advocate from the United States Australian Shepherd Association Heath And Genetics Along with myself Are gathering Information about Aussies that Have Died or Had A Reaction to any of the Drugs on this List. if you Would Like to contact me and Share Your Story to Help others Please Contact/ friend me on My Face Book Page Maryjean Shaffer . I guess it would be helpful to know your at least your first name as i get a lot of friend request. Im very sorry About Shelby. I also just Lost My 2 year old girl to a drug interaction Flagel and Doxycyline. Take care

Holly
by: Anonymous

Mary, I am so very sorry to hear that you just lost your Aussie. Much peace to you. I understand all too well how difficult that is. Thank you for the invite to friend you on FB. My name is Holly. I will friend you after this comment gets posted. I will be happy to support you and your research in any way I can...unfortunately, I took Shelby immediately in for cremation so her death remains a mystery so wouldn't feel right adding her to your study without evidence. She was a rescue and suffered extreme abuse and neglect so no telling what really lead to her demise. I know she had some genetic anomalies that made her 'undesirable' to backyard breeders, which I suspect she came from. Here's hoping your heart heals quickly and you remember all the good times with your pup!! =)

Shelbys Mom
by: Maryjean Shaffer

Hi Holly Please do friend Me! Thank you for your kind Words, and Im very sorry about your loss. . The Information you gave is HELPFUL . Not everyone has an necropsy after their dog passes. Most People in fact don't. There are Many Articles and Studies done on Metronidazole documenting very similar reactions that Shelby Had . When You hear about the same, or similar things happening ( seizures neurotoxicity death ) over and over its time to take notice. Its called Empirical Evidence. This is how we got Funding to do research on many of the other drugs on that list. We Second guess ourselves, when we know in our heart what happened. It Doesn't help to have Drs being Dismissive to Cover their A%*7ss. We have come along way! But we have Farther to go!

Thank you, Mary
by: Holly

Mary, I have friended you =) I would love to learn more about your advocacy project and will contribute what I can. I do believe it is important for those of us who own or are owned by Aussie's ;) to stick together as they are very complicated breeds. I appreciate what you are doing! I have learned so much from my vet. He's developed a protocol for vaccinations (which includes titer testing), anesthesia etc. specifically with Australian Shepherd's in mind....however he says it really is a protocol that all vets should follow for all dogs as it is the safest he's seen and been able to come up with. He uses only the purest vaccines on all his patients. He's about 35 miles away from me, but it is well worth it as I love my girls!!

Kasey
by: Anonymous

It has been almost 2 yrs since we lost our beloved Kasey. I had never heard of MDR1 gene mutation at the time we got our baby. It makes me so angry that this apparently common genetic problem is or not talked about more.

EVERY vet that practices medicine should acknowledge the possibilities of drug interactions with certain breeds, especially the MDR1 mutation! We took excellent care of Kasey, she was our family. Never had a health issue for 8 years, took her in to an ER vet late one night, she was having gastric problems we thought. They gave her metronidazole (flagg) and cerenia and sent us home.

The very next morning she was experiencing neurological systems, wandering, not knowing us, confused, it was so frightening! Back to her reg vet, not a word from them about possible drug interaction or MDR1. Which now that I have learned, with her being a little aussie was more than just a possibility.

Then seizures occurred a couple of times about 5-6 mos later which after another vet visit (different vet) I was told looked like a brain tumor now. Point is she was fine neurologically until the metronidazole, then it just went downhill.

All the time we are asking questions why and NO one mentioned MDR1!!! Seems so simple now, I miss her everyday still, we loved her with all our hearts.

After a period of time we got another little aussie (Kay) which I am about to have tested. I tell everyone about this manageable gene mutation. It's all about the drugs.

I am so so sorry to hear that many of you lost your loving babies, and all the grief and tears you experienced. We all have our beautiful loving memories. Kaseys mom.

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