Lincomycin: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antibiotic

Also known as

Lincocin, Linco-Spectin

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Pigs, Birds and Ferrets

General dose range

10–25 mg/kg PO q12h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO, IM

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Canine / feline staphylococcal skin and soft-tissue infection
• Osteomyelitis (bone penetration)
• Porcine swine dysentery / mycoplasmal arthritis
• Poultry mycoplasmosis (with spectinomycin)

Lincomycin 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

• Pyoderma / soft tissue / bone: Papich 5e: 22 mg/kg q12h PO. Plumb’s p.732: skin and soft tissue 15.4 mg/kg PO q8h or 22 mg/kg PO q12h — superficial pyoderma 21–42 days, deep pyoderma 56 days (Greene 2006); 20 mg/kg q12h (White 2007).
• Systemic infection (injectable): Papich 5e: 22 mg/kg q24h or 11 mg/kg q12h, IV slowly. Plumb’s p.732 (Greene 2006): 22 mg/kg IM, SC or IV (diluted, slow drip) q24h or 11 mg/kg IM/SC q12h; sepsis 11–22 mg/kg IV q8h. Rapid IV can cause hypotension and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Cats

• Soft-tissue infection: Papich 5e: 22 mg/kg q12h PO. Plumb’s p.732 (Greene 2006): systemic infections 15 mg/kg PO q8h or 22 mg/kg PO q12h; skin/soft tissue 11 mg/kg IM q12h or 22 mg/kg IM q24h; 12 days or less.

Cattle

• Generally contraindicated: Plumb’s p.731: lincosamides are considered contraindicated in ruminants, although parenteral case reports exist. Papich 5e does list cattle doses (5 mg/kg IM q24h for 5–7 days for septic arthritis, mastitis and abscesses) — specialist, extra-label use only, with a FARAD withdrawal.

Horses

• Contraindicated: Plumb’s p.731: lincosamides are considered contraindicated in rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, horses and ruminants because of serious, sometimes fatal, gastrointestinal effects.

Pigs

• Mycoplasma pneumonia / arthritis (injectable): Papich 5e: mycoplasma infections 11 mg/kg q24h IM for 3–5 days. Plumb’s p.732 (label): 11 mg/kg IM once daily for 3–7 days; slaughter withdrawal 48 hours at labelled doses.
• Swine dysentery — drinking water: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.732 (label): 250 mg/gallon, averaging 8.36 mg/kg/day, for 5–10 days. Follow the product label withdrawal.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Generally contraindicated: Plumb’s p.731: lincosamides are considered contraindicated in ruminants, although parenteral case reports exist. Papich 5e does list cattle doses (5 mg/kg IM q24h for 5–7 days for septic arthritis, mastitis and abscesses) — specialist, extra-label use only, with a FARAD withdrawal.

Birds

• Pododermatitis (bumblefoot): Plumb’s 10e p.762 (extra-label): pododermatitis (bumblefoot) — 50 mg/kg PO twice daily. This is the only bird dose in Plumb’s 10e; Papich 5e gives none. Poultry water products are dosed per their label.

Rabbits

• Contraindicated: Plumb’s p.731: lincosamides are contraindicated in rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs (serious GI effects including death).

Ferrets

• Susceptible infection: Plumb’s p.732 (Williams 2000): 10–15 mg/kg PO three times daily, or 10 mg/kg IM twice daily.

Guinea pigs

• Contraindicated: Plumb’s p.731: lincosamides are contraindicated in rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs.

Contraindications

NEVER give to rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses or ruminants — causes fatal clostridial enterocolitis. Hypersensitivity to lincosamides. Significant hepatic impairment.

Species-specific warnings

Horses: FATAL in horses — causes severe clostridial colitis. Never administer.

Rabbits: FATAL in rabbits / guinea pigs / hamsters — lethal enterotoxaemia. Contraindicated.

Adverse effects

• GI upset, diarrhoea
• Pain / swelling at IM site
• Hypotension if given rapidly IV

Drug interactions

• Macrolides / chloramphenicol: compete for the same ribosomal binding site — antagonism, do not combine
• Neuromuscular blockers / inhalant anaesthetics: enhanced neuromuscular blockade
• Kaolin–pectin antidiarrhoeals: markedly reduce oral absorption — separate by ≥2 h
• Cross-resistance with erythromycin / clindamycin

Pregnancy and lactation

Limited data; acceptable in target species where indicated if benefit outweighs risk. Never in lagomorph, rodent, equine or ruminant species regardless of pregnancy status.

Monitoring

• Faecal consistency — discontinue if severe diarrhoea develops
• Blood pressure during IV administration (give slowly)
• Food-animal meat withdrawal times

Toxicity and overdose

The principal hazard is antibiotic-associated clostridial colitis — rapidly fatal in horses, rabbits, rodents and ruminants, and possible in dogs / cats with severe diarrhoea. Rapid IV injection causes hypotension and cardiopulmonary depression.

Clinical pearls

• A practical anti-staphylococcal / anti-anaerobe with excellent bone penetration for osteomyelitis
• Lincomycin-spectinomycin combinations broaden cover for respiratory / enteric disease in pigs and poultry
• Give IV slowly — rapid injection drops blood pressure

Mechanism of action

Lincosamide. Binds the 50S ribosomal subunit (23S rRNA) and blocks peptide-bond formation → bacteriostatic inhibition of protein synthesis. Active against Gram-positive cocci and anaerobes; concentrates in bone and phagocytes, giving good osteomyelitis penetration.

Formulations and products

• Lincomycin 100 mg/mL injection
• Lincomycin 100 mg tablet
• Lincomycin 500 mg tablet
• Lincomycin soluble powder (pig / poultry)
• Lincocin (Zoetis) — 100 mg/mL injection; 100 / 500 mg tablet, Injection / tablet
• Linco-Spectin (Zoetis) — Lincomycin + spectinomycin, Soluble powder / injection

Storage

Store at room temperature, dry; protect injectable from freezing.

Before you use this dose

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

• Fusidic Acid
• Gamithromycin
• Gentamicin
• Levofloxacin
• Linezolid
• Marbofloxacin
• Meropenem
• Minocycline

Frequently asked questions