Metronidazole For Cats: Flagyl Dosage Chart & Calculator

Metronidazole For Cats

Metronidazole, the popular brand name Flagyl is an anti-diarrheal medication for humans. Metronidazole For cats is used to treat mild to severe diarrhea. 

The medicine also has many other veterinary uses, such as treating certain protozoal infections and anaerobic bacterial pathogens in cats and dogs.

Beside these uses Metronidazole can also be used to treat certain inflamations of gastro intestinal tract and can also be used to treat dental infections. 

Metronidazole is not FDA-approved for pets use; however it can be used off-label to treat diarrhea, IBD, and other issues in cats.

It’s important to follow your veterinarian’s dosage instructions closely, as higher doses can be toxic to cats.

In this article, we’ll discuss the recommended metronidazole dosage for cats, other uses, benefits as well as some potential side effects. A dosage calculator is available for every form of the medicine.

Metronidazole For Cats

What is safe Metronidazole Dosage For cats?

The safe dosage of metronidazole to treat cat diarrhea is 7-10 mg/kg or 3-5 mg/lb twice daily. For the treatment of Giardia infection in felines, the recommended dose of metronidazole is 10-25 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days. The dosage of Flagyl metronidazole liquid suspension 200mg/5ml for cats is 0.18 ml/kg.

Remember that the dose of any feline medication depends on several factors, including the weight of the body, health issues, severity of the illness, and overall health condition of the cat.

Your veterinarian can increase or decrease the dosage after observing your feline health issue physically.

Metronidazole Dosage Calculator For cats


Metronidazole Dosage chart by weight For cats

Cat Weight kg Cat Weight lbsMetronidazole Dosage
2 kg4 lbs14-20 mg
3 kg7 lbs21-30 mg
4 kg9 lbs28-40 mg
5 kg11 lbs35-50 mg
6 kg13 lbs42-60 mg
7 kg15 lbs49- 70 mg
8 kg18 lbs56-80 mg
9 kg20 lbs63-90 mg
10 kg22 lbs70-100 mg

To follow the Metronidazole Dosage chart by weight For cats, For safety, we suggest always sticking with the low dose until your vet advises to increase the dose. 

Flagyl Liquid Suspension Dosage Chart For Cats

The ideal form of using Metronidazole for felines is to use the liquid form. Liquid Flagyl is easier to administer to cats as compared to tablet forms. 

Cat Weight in kgFeline Weight in lbsFlagyl Liquid Suspension Dosage
2 kg4 lbs0.36 ml
3 kg7 lbs0.54 ml
4 kg9 lbs0.72 ml
5 kg11 lbs0.9 ml
6 kg13 lbs1 ml
7 kg15 lbs1.26 ml
8 kg18 lbs1.44 ml
9 kg20 lbs1.62 ml
10 kg22 lbs1.8 ml

The above Flagyl Liquid Suspension Dosage Chart for felines is based on the liquid 200mg/5ml of Flagyl.

Flagyl Suspension Dosage Calculator For Cats


Can I give my cat Flagyl 400mg?

Flagyl for cats

Yes, you can give your cat Flagyl 400mg. However, make sure to divide the tablet into a safe dosage for your kitty

Don’t give a whole 400mg tablet to your cat. Overdosing can be fatal. Please note that Flagyl 400mg should only be used under the advice and supervision of a veterinarian.

Flagyl Tablets Dosage Chart for cats

kg Weightlbs Weight Flagyl 250 mg for cats DosageFlagyl 400 mg Dosage for catsFlagyl 500 mg cats Dosage
5 kg11 lbs1/5 Tablet Not Recommended Not Recommended
6 kg13 lbs1/4 Tablet Not RecommendedNot Recommended
7 kg15 lbs1/4 Tablet1/6 TabletNot Recommended
8 kg18 lbs1/3 Tablet1/5 TabletNot Recommended
9 kg20 lbs1/3 Tablet1/5 Tablet1/6 Tablet
10 kg22 lbs1/3 Tablet1/4 Tablet1/5 Tablet

Which cats should not take Metronidazole?

Metronidazole should not be given to pregnant cats or kittens under six weeks old. Felines with liver or kidney disease may also be at risk for adverse reactions when taking Metronidazole.

Metronidazole and cat

Cats allergic to the medicine and suffering from debilitated or liver dysfunction should not take Metronidazole until your veterinarian advises. 

Metronidazole should not be used in pregnant or nursing cats, as it can cause congenital disabilities or fetal death. 

Metronidazole can also enter a cat’s milk and may harm young kittens, so nursing felines should not take the medications.  

Side effects of Metronidazole in Cats

The most reported side effects of Metronidazole in felines are:

  • Vomiting
  • Mouth foaming
  • Drooling and gagging
  • Irregular Eye movements
  • Depression and disorientation
  • Restlessness

Metronidazole Toxicity in Cats

Among pets, felines are more susceptible to the toxic effects of metronidazole, and even a small overdose can lead to serious health problems.

Symptoms of metronidazole toxicity in cats include vomiting, Stiffness, appetite loss, weight loss, Tremors, lethargy, and seizures, Blood in the urine and Liver damage.

If your cat has any of these symptoms after taking metronidazole, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.

How long does metronidazole take to start its work?

Metronidazole starts to work against infections within a few hours about 2-4 hours. However, you may not notice any improvement in your symptoms for the first few days of treatment.

For some types of infections, it may take a week or two of treatment before your symptoms start to improve.

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Which medecine can interact with metronidazole?

vet with cat

Metronidazole Flagyl can interact with certain medicines. Ensure to inform your vet before using this anti-diarrheal medicine for your kitty.

medicine interact with metronidazole are:

Metronidazole for cats length of Treatment

A veterinarian can better decide the duration of the treatment more accurately. However, in general, To treat cat diarrhea, the length of metronidazole treatment is 4-8 days.

For the treatment of Giardia infection, five days of treatment is required. 

Popular Brand Names:

  • Flagyl®
  • Metric 21®
  • Protostat®
  • Metro®

How to administer Metronidazole for cats?

1. Metronidazole is a prescription medication that is used to treat various infections in cats.

2. The recommended dosage can be given by mouth every 8-12 hours for 7-10 days.

3. Metronidazole can be given with or without food, but if your cat vomits after taking it on an empty stomach, try giving it with food next time.

4. Some common side effects of Metronidazole include diarrhea, appetite loss, and vomiting. Contact your vet if you observe an adverse reaction.

5. Metronidazole should not be used in pregnant or nursing cats, as it can be passed to the kittens through milk.

6. If you are giving Metronidazole to a kitten, be sure to follow the dosage instructions closely, as kittens are more sensitive to the medication than adult cats.

7. Metronidazole can interact with other medications, so be sure to tell your veterinarian about any other drugs your cat is taking before starting Metronidazole.

8. The dosage and length of treatment will vary depending on the condition being treated.

9. Flagyl can be given orally or intravenously.

10. Metronidazole should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug.

Can I use metronidazole for cats vomiting?

Metronidazole is not an effective medication for treating cat vomiting. You should not use metronidazole for cats vomiting. There are other medications that are more effective and safe for vomiting cats.

metronidazole dosage chart for cats
flagyl suspesntion dosage chart for cats

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