Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat treated with metronidazole developed severe brain toxicity signs
By Olson, E J et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2005·Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Putative metronidazole neurotoxicosis in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3.4-kg adult cat developed serious neurological problems after being treated with metronidazole for about 40 days for suspected inflammatory bowel disease. The cat showed symptoms like weakness in all four legs, unresponsiveness, tremors, and excessive vocalization. Despite receiving supportive care for 12 days, the cat was euthanized due to the severity of its condition. A post-mortem examination revealed damage in the brain, which is believed to be linked to the metronidazole treatment.
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Abstract
A presumptive case of metronidazole toxicity in a 3.4-kg adult cat is described. The cat had been treated for suspected inflammatory bowel disease with an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone and metronidazole (73.5-147 mg/kg PO q24h) for approximately 40 days prior to presentation. Clinical signs were primarily related to the central nervous system, including acute tetraparesis, unresponsiveness, tremors, and vocalization. The patient was euthanatized after 12 days of supportive care. Necropsy revealed no significant macroscopic lesions. Histologic evaluation revealed multifocal, fairly well-demarcated foci of necrosis in the brainstem, extending from the diencephalon to the medulla oblongata. To our knowledge, this is the first report to document histologic lesions associated with metronidazole administration in a cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16145214/