Cat on metronidazole: Explosive diarrhea normal? Keep giving meds?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Korat | Male | neutered | 13 years and 5 months old | 9.6 lbs
Hi, my cat has been having chronic loose stools and was put on metronidazole. After just one day of the antibiotics, he started to have explosive diarrhea. Is that normal and should I continue with the meds?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 2nd, 2018
Hi and thank you for using PetCoach. I am sorry to hear that Beau is having diarrhea. Since, Beau has only been on metronidazole for one day, I would continue it as it may not have started to work yet. It typically takes 24-48 hours to see any changes. However, if Beau stops eating, is lethargic or has blood in his stool, I would reach out to your veterinarian again and let them know. Beau may need another physical exam or other medications. Here is an article on diarrhea in cats that may be helpful for you and Beau: https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-in-cats/ Good luck and I hope he feels better soon!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on December 30th, 2017
All you can do is continue the medication as previously directed--more doses should help, it just may be too soon to see right now. I would look at a local pet store for a feline probiotic to add to the food as this can help repopulate the normal bacterial population and possibly change her to a sensitive stomach formula food.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on December 21st, 2019
Without a full history as to why a diet change was prescribed it is impossible to recommend reverting back. Metronidazole can cause marked diarrhoea in patients which may be triggering the symptoms. I recommend continuing as prescribed until you can contact your Vets office to discuss the changes in her condition and decide the best way forward
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on May 29th, 2019
My understanding of your question os taht you are concerned about your cat having loose bowel movements, her stool is loose like she has some mild diarrhea. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, then you can try adding a probiotic; there are some good ones formulated for cats. Ideally, take Chikoo to a veterinarian. If your vet diagnoses Giardia or an overgrowith of bacteria, often the medication metronidazole is prescribed. Metronidazole is not labeled for use in animals, though it has been used safely and effectively. See additional information here: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aavpt.org/resource/resmgr/imported/metronidazole.pdf Thank you for asking PetCoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Yesterday he was prescribed Metronidazole Suspension for diarrhea that has been getting worse off and on over the last few weeks. He also takes Metoclopramide to prevent vomiting on a regular basis. Since starting the Metronidazole yesterday the diar
So I took my foster kitten to see our shelter vet today as he has had explosive diarrhea lately. She didnt seem interested in determining the cause and instead gave treatment for the symptoms; however, I expected this. She prescribed 0.6 ml of liquid
My kitten has been having diarrhea for a few weeks now She's been dewormed so I thought it may have been the food we've given her so we changed to Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula but she's still having diarrhea So I took her to the ve
Hi!My cat has had diarrhea for 4 days now.We took him to the vet and they ran some tests, they figured the food he was eating was responsible.The vet ordered 3 meds:kaolinpectin, cimetidine, and metronidazole.He's been taking them for two days but hi
Mia has had a pasty, chalk colored diahrrea for a few days now. It's streaked with green mucous and flecked with blood. I took a stool sample to the vet and it came up clean, save for some bacteria Her vet put her on Metronidazole ans told me to gi
Hi, my cats been having a leaky bum (poop keeps coming out of her bum and she constantly has to lick) after switching to the brand of wet food my vet gave her or maybe from metronidazole, not sure. Should I go back to feeding her dry food only? these
Hi! Beau's been having loose stool for 3 weeks and is on metronidazole for a week already but diarrhea's worsen. Could that be the side effect of the med-- how would I know if the med is working? He's also on 2.5mg of prednisolone every other day for
How long does it take for metronidazole to start working. Several days of diarrhea. Vet prescribed this. Some blood in stool. That was yesterday. Still runny today but no blood and its not every few minutes popping like previous days.. She told me fl
My puppy is just getting off metronidazole after 10 days for diarrhea. Her stool this morning was soft. she was on the medicine she only pooped a total of 3 times it was solid. I asked earlier & I was told to see my vet again because it could be som
my cat is having giardiasis.recently he was having diarrhoea with greenish color stool n mucous also present.he had loss of appetite.i took him to a vet they diagnosed him with giardia.he only gave medicine metronidazole 200mg orally in every 12hrs f
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
