Clindamycin
Also known as: Antirobe, Cleocin, Clintabs, Clinsol, Clinacin, Clindacyl, Clindaseptin, Mycinor, Zodon
> **Important Administration Note:** If using oral tablets or capsules, especially in cats, **always follow the medication with at least 6 mL (a little more than a teaspoonful) of liquid** or hide it in a small meatball of wet food. Giving a dry pill can cause the medication to stick in the esophagus, leading to severe ulcers and strictures. * **Watch for GI Upset:** Report any incidence of severe, protracted, or bloody diarrhea to your veterinarian immediately. * **Complete the Course:** Give the medication exactly as prescribed for the full duration, even if your pet seems to feel better, to prevent resistant infections.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Infected wounds, abscesses and dental infections
- Sepsis
- Anaerobic infections
- Intra-abdominal sepsis
- Pancreatitis
- Susceptible respiratory infections
- Surgical prophylaxis for gram-positive aerobes and anaerobic coverage
- Toxoplasmosis (to decrease zoonotic risk by reducing shedding period)
- Clinical toxoplasmosis
- Enteroepithelial toxoplasmosis
- Systemic toxoplasmosis
- Susceptible infections
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Gastroenteritis (emesis, loose stools, bloody diarrhea)
- Esophageal injuries (esophagitis, strictures) in cats if dry-pilled
- Hypersalivation or lip smacking in cats after oral administration
- Pain at IM injection site
- Mild, clinically insignificant increases in liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP)
- Colitis
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Oesophagitis (especially in cats)
- Oesophageal stricture (especially in cats)
Cautions & contraindications
- Horses
- Rabbits
- Hamsters
- Chinchillas
- Guinea pigs
- Ruminants
- Patients hypersensitive to lincosamides
- Neonatal small animals (generally avoided)
- Known hypersensitivity to lincosamides
- > **Esophageal Injury Warning:** Clindamycin has been implicated in causing esophagitis and esophageal strictures in small animals (especially cats). **Avoid dry 'pilling'**; always administer with food or a water bolus. * **Hepatic/Renal Impairment:** Patients with very severe renal and/or hepatic disease should receive the drug with caution. Consider dosage reduction and monitor serum clindamycin levels during high-dose therapy. * **Species Restrictions:** Fatal gastrointestinal effects can occur in horses, ruminants, and small herbivores (rabbits, rodents). Do not use in these species.
Drug interactions
- Cyclosporine: Clindamycin may reduce cyclosporine levels
- Erythromycin: In vitro antagonism when used with clindamycin; concomitant use should probably be avoided
- Neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., pancuronium): Clindamycin possesses intrinsic neuromuscular blocking activity and should be used cautiously with other neuromuscular blocking agents
- Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants (e.g., tubocurarine): May enhance the neuromuscular blocking effect
- Neostigmine: May antagonize the effects of neostigmine
- Pyridostigmine: May antagonize the effects of pyridostigmine
- Macrolides (e.g., erythromycin): Antagonistic antimicrobial effects due to competing binding sites
- Chloramphenicol: Antagonistic antimicrobial effects due to competing binding sites
- Other lincosamides: Antagonistic antimicrobial effects
- Tubocurarine (and other non-depolarizing muscle relaxants): May enhance the neuromuscular blocking effect
Frequently asked questions
What is Clindamycin used for in pets?
> **Important Administration Note:** If using oral tablets or capsules, especially in cats, **always follow the medication with at least 6 mL (a little more than a teaspoonful) of liquid** or hide it in a small meatball of wet food. Giving a dry pill can cause the medication to stick in the esophagus, leading to severe ulcers and strictures. * **Watch for GI Upset:** Report any incidence of severe, protracted, or bloody diarrhea to your veterinarian immediately. * **Complete the Course:** Give the medication exactly as prescribed for the full duration, even if your pet seems to feel better, to prevent resistant infections.
Is Clindamycin safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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