# Clindamycin: veterinary dose and monograph > Clindamycin is a veterinary antibiotic. Lincosamide — excellent activity against anaerobes, Gram-positives (incl. Indications include wounds, abscesses, dental infections; osteomyelitis; anaerobic / mixed infections. This monograph lists 15 reference doses for dogs, cats, pigs, birds, ferrets and reptiles and 3 more species, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals. Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clindamycin · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01 ## At a glance - **Drug class:** Antibiotic - **Also known as:** Antirobe, Cleocin, Clintabs, Clinsol - **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats, Pigs, Birds, Ferrets, Reptiles, Hedgehogs, Sugar gliders and Primates - **General dose range:** 5–11 mg/kg PO q12h — check the species tables for the indication - **Routes:** PO, IV - **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026 ## Indications - Wounds, abscesses, dental infections - Osteomyelitis - Anaerobic / mixed infections - Staphylococcal pyoderma (recurrent) - Toxoplasmosis - Neospora caninum - Babesia (when specific anti-babesial drugs unavailable) - Hepatozoon americanum (combined therapy) ## Clindamycin dose by species Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them. ### Dogs *Clindamycin doses for dogs* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wounds / abscesses / dental (label) | 5.5–33 mg/kg | PO | q12h | up to 28 days | | Osteomyelitis | 11–33 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 28 days | | Sepsis / bacteraemia | 11 mg/kg | IV | q12h | — | | Toxoplasmosis | 12.5 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 28 days | | Babesia (if anti-babesials unavailable) | 12.5–25 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 7–21 days | - Wounds / abscesses / dental (label): Plumb’s p.291 (Antirobe label) and Papich 5e: 5.5–33 mg/kg PO q12h for up to 28 days; stop if no response in 3–4 days. Papich: staphylococcal infections 11 mg/kg q12h or 22 mg/kg q24h; anaerobic/periodontal 11–33 mg/kg q12h. - Osteomyelitis: Plumb’s p.291: osteomyelitis 11–33 mg/kg PO q12h for up to 28 days (label); 11 mg/kg q12h for 28 days (Greene & Watson). - Sepsis / bacteraemia: Plumb’s p.291 (Hardie 2000): sepsis 11 mg/kg IV q12h; systemic/bacteraemia 3–10 mg/kg IV, IM, SC or PO q8h (Greene & Watson). Papich 5e: 10 mg/kg q12h IV or IM — dilute and infuse slowly IV. - Toxoplasmosis: Plumb’s p.291 (Lappin 2000): 12.5 mg/kg PO or IM q12h for 28 days; Neospora 10 mg/kg q12h for 4 weeks with TMP-sulfa; Hepatozoon 10 mg/kg q8h with TMP-sulfa and pyrimethamine. - Babesia (if anti-babesials unavailable): Plumb’s p.291: 12.5 mg/kg q12h PO for 2 weeks (Lappin); 25 mg/kg PO q12h for 7–21 days when diminazene, imidocarb or other antibabesials are unavailable (Taboada & Lobetti). ### Cats *Clindamycin doses for cats* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Susceptible infection | 5–10 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | | Wounds / abscesses (label) | 11–33 mg/kg | PO | q24h | ≤14 days | | Systemic toxoplasmosis | 12.5–25 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 14–28 days | - Susceptible infection: Plumb’s p.291: 5–10 mg/kg PO q12h (Jenkins; Trepanier); anaerobes 5–10 mg/kg PO or IV q12h (Greene & Jang). Papich 5e: 5.5 mg/kg q12h or 11 mg/kg q24h PO. Always follow capsules/tablets with food or water (oesophagitis). - Wounds / abscesses (label): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.291 (Antirobe label): 11–33 mg/kg PO once daily; do not continue acute infections beyond 3–4 days without response; maximum labelled course 14 days. - Systemic toxoplasmosis: Plumb’s p.291 (Greene & Watson 1998): systemic toxoplasmosis 12.5–25 mg/kg PO or SC q12h for 14–28 days; enteroepithelial 8–16 mg/kg q8h. Papich 5e: 12.5 mg/kg, up to 25 mg/kg, q12h for 4 weeks. Lappin: 10 mg/kg q12h with TMP-sulfa and azithromycin for ≥28 days. ### Pigs *Clindamycin doses for pigs* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Miniature/pet pig — tusk / soft-tissue abscess | 11–33 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label | - Miniature/pet pig — tusk / soft-tissue abscess: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 12-1 (p.659): miniature pigs 11–33 mg/kg PO q12h — commonly for tusk abscesses. (Pigs, unlike rabbits/rodents, are not hindgut fermenters, so lincosamides are tolerated.) Papich 5e advises that clindamycin must not be given orally to large (ruminant/equine) herbivores; this row is for pet mini-pigs only. ### Birds *Clindamycin doses for birds* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Susceptible infections | 25 mg/kg | PO | q8h | — | - Susceptible infections: Plumb’s p.291: 25 mg/kg PO q8h (Tully 2002); mild spore-forming enteric bacterial infections 50 mg/kg PO q12h for 5–10 days (Flammer 2006). ### Ferrets *Clindamycin doses for ferrets* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Susceptible infection | 5–10 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | - Susceptible infection: Plumb’s p.292 (Williams 2000): ferrets 5–10 mg/kg PO twice daily. ### Reptiles *Clindamycin doses for reptiles* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Susceptible / respiratory (anaerobes, Mycoplasma) | 5 mg/kg | PO | q24h | 14 days | - Susceptible / respiratory (anaerobes, Mycoplasma): Plumb's p.293 (Lewbart 2001; Klaphake 2005): 5 mg/kg PO once daily; respiratory infections 5 mg/kg PO q24h ×14 days. ### Hedgehogs *Clindamycin doses for hedgehogs* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Anaerobes / dental disease | 10 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | - Anaerobes / dental disease: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8-1 (p.512): hedgehogs 10 mg/kg PO q12h for anaerobes / dental disease; mix with food to improve palatability. ### Sugar gliders *Clindamycin doses for sugar gliders* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Periodontal disease / sinusitis | 5.5–10 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 7–10 days | - Periodontal disease / sinusitis: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7-1 (p.497): sugar gliders 5.5–10 mg/kg PO q12h ×7–10 days for periodontal disease / sinusitis. ### Primates *Clindamycin doses for primates* | Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Anaerobic / susceptible infection (monkeys) | 10–12.5 mg/kg | PO | q12–24h | — | - Anaerobic / susceptible infection (monkeys): Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 13-1 (p.682): monkeys 12.5 mg/kg IM q8h; 10 mg/kg PO q24h; chimpanzees 150–300 mg/animal PO q6h. ## Contraindications CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, horses, ruminants — fatal GI dysbiosis. Hypersensitivity. Severe renal/hepatic disease (reduce dose, monitor levels). Avoid in neonates. NEVER dry-pill cats — esophageal injury / stricture. ## Species-specific warnings > **Caution:** Horses: FATAL antibiotic-associated colitis. NEVER administer to horses. > **Caution:** Rabbits: FATAL Clostridium difficile overgrowth. NEVER use in rabbits. > **Caution:** Small mammals: FATAL in guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, gerbils. NEVER administer. > **Caution:** Dogs: Well tolerated. Watch for rare colitis on prolonged courses. Long courses (4–12 weeks) for deep pyoderma / osteomyelitis. > **Caution:** Cats: Risk of oesophagitis / stricture — ALWAYS follow with water or food bolus. ## Adverse effects - GI: vomiting, loose stools, occasional bloody diarrhoea (dogs) - Hypersalivation / lip-smacking (cats) - Esophagitis / stricture if dry-pilled (cats) - Pain at IM injection - Rare C. difficile colitis (uncommon in dogs/cats) ## Drug interactions - Erythromycin / azithromycin / tylosin: same ribosomal binding site — DO NOT combine (antagonism / cross-resistance) - Neuromuscular blockers (atracurium, pancuronium, succinylcholine): clindamycin enhances neuromuscular blockade — risk of prolonged paralysis - Kaolin / antidiarrhoeals: reduce clindamycin oral absorption — separate by 2 h - Cyclosporine: theoretical additive effects on immune cells - Loperamide: AVOID — masks clindamycin-induced colitis ## Pregnancy and lactation Crosses placenta. Generally considered safe in pregnant dogs and cats at therapeutic doses; widely used for Toxoplasma exposure in pregnant patients. Excreted in milk. FDA Category B (human). ## Monitoring - GI tolerance — cats especially watch for hypersalivation, oesophagitis - Hepatic enzymes (ALT, ALP) on prolonged courses - CBC on courses >2 weeks — rare blood dyscrasia - Clinical response — refractory osteomyelitis / abscess may need culture & sensitivity - Discontinue immediately if diarrhoea develops ## Toxicity and overdose Horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas: FATAL antibiotic-associated colitis (C. difficile overgrowth). NEVER administer to these species. Cats: hypersalivation, oesophagitis — give with food and follow with water/food. Dogs: well tolerated; rare colitis, hepatic enzyme elevation, blood dyscrasia. Management: Discontinue. Supportive: IV fluids, anti-emetic, GI mucosal protection (sucralfate). Pseudomembranous colitis: metronidazole 10–15 mg/kg PO q8h or vancomycin in severe cases. Equine / lagomorph exposure: aggressive fluid + supportive care + faecal transplant — prognosis guarded. ## Clinical pearls - Canine deep pyoderma / osteomyelitis: 11 mg/kg PO q12h × minimum 4 weeks; extends to 8–12 weeks for chronic osteomyelitis - Toxoplasma / Neospora (dogs, cats): 10–25 mg/kg PO q12h × 4 weeks minimum - Dental / oral abscess: 11 mg/kg PO q12h — excellent tissue + bone penetration - Cats: ALWAYS follow tablet/capsule with water or food — risk of oesophagitis / oesophageal stricture - NEVER in horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas — fatal colitis - Inducible MLS-B resistance: D-test on culture identifies strains where clindamycin will fail despite apparent susceptibility - Long courses for bone infection — minimum 4 weeks for osteomyelitis, often 8–12 ## Mechanism of action Lincosamide antibiotic. Reversibly binds the 50S bacterial ribosomal subunit, blocking peptide bond formation and inhibiting protein synthesis. Bacteriostatic (cidal at high concentrations against susceptible Gram-positives). Excellent tissue, bone, and abscess penetration; concentrates in macrophages and PMNs. Spectrum: Gram-positive cocci (incl. methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus), most obligate anaerobes (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Clostridium except C. difficile), Toxoplasma, Neospora. NO Gram-negative aerobe coverage. ## Formulations and products - Antirobe capsule 25 mg - Antirobe capsule 75 mg - Antirobe capsule 150 mg - Antirobe capsule 300 mg - Antirobe Aquadrops oral solution 25 mg/mL - Cleocin Phosphate injection 150 mg/mL ## Storage Capsules / tablets: 15–30 °C, dry. Oral solution: 15–30 °C — do NOT refrigerate (thickening, separation). Injection: 15–25 °C. Multidose vial: discard 28 days after broaching. ## Before you use this dose > **Caution:** Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision. ## Other antibiotics - [Cephalexin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cephalexin) - [Chloramphenicol](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/chloramphenicol) - [Ciprofloxacin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ciprofloxacin) - [Clarithromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clarithromycin) - [Cloxacillin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cloxacillin) - [Colistin (Polymyxin E)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/colistin) - [Danofloxacin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/danofloxacin) - [Doxycycline](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/doxycycline) ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the dose of Clindamycin for dogs? Reference doses for Clindamycin in dogs: 5.5–33 mg/kg PO q12h for up to 28 days (Wounds / abscesses / dental (label)); 11–33 mg/kg PO q12h for 28 days (Osteomyelitis); 11 mg/kg IV q12h (Sepsis / bacteraemia); 12.5 mg/kg PO q12h for 28 days (Toxoplasmosis); and 1 more indication-specific doses listed on this page. Confirm against the label and the patient before use. ### What is the dose of Clindamycin for cats? Reference doses for Clindamycin in cats: 5–10 mg/kg PO q12h (Susceptible infection); 11–33 mg/kg PO q24h for ≤14 days (Wounds / abscesses (label)); 12.5–25 mg/kg PO q12h for 14–28 days (Systemic toxoplasmosis). Confirm against the label and the patient before use. ### What is the dose of Clindamycin for pigs? Reference doses for Clindamycin in pigs: 11–33 mg/kg PO q12h (Miniature/pet pig — tusk / soft-tissue abscess). Confirm against the label and the patient before use. ### What is the withdrawal period for Clindamycin? Pigs, PO (Miniature/pet pig — tusk / soft-tissue abscess): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ. ### When should Clindamycin not be used? CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, horses, ruminants — fatal GI dysbiosis. Hypersensitivity. Severe renal/hepatic disease (reduce dose, monitor levels). Avoid in neonates. NEVER dry-pill cats — esophageal injury / stricture. ### What are the side effects of Clindamycin in animals? GI: vomiting, loose stools, occasional bloody diarrhoea (dogs); Hypersalivation / lip-smacking (cats); Esophagitis / stricture if dry-pilled (cats); Pain at IM injection; Rare C. difficile colitis (uncommon in dogs/cats). ## Sources - Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook - Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition - Carpenter, Exotic Animal Formulary --- VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.