Clindamycin

Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibacterial used for susceptible gram-positive and anaerobic infections in dogs and cats. Its distribution into soft tissues and bone supports use in dental, wound and musculoskeletal infections. It also has antiprotozoal activity and is an important treatment for clinical toxoplasmosis, particularly in cats.

Group

Lincosamide antibacterial

Mechanism of Action

Clindamycin binds the 50S bacterial ribosomal subunit near the macrolide binding region and inhibits peptide-chain elongation. This suppresses bacterial protein synthesis and is usually bacteriostatic, although killing can occur with highly susceptible organisms. Its antibacterial spectrum favors susceptible gram-positive cocci and anaerobes. Against Toxoplasma gondii, inhibition of protein synthesis in the apicoplast contributes to impaired parasite replication.

Dose Rates

Dogs

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Staphylococcal infection	11 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Staphylococcal infection	22 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Label-range bacterial infection treatment	5.5–33 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Refractory bacterial infection	33 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Anaerobic or periodontal infection	11–33 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Parenteral bacterial infection treatment	10 mg/kg	IV, IM	Every 12 h	Clindamycin phosphate injection. For IV delivery, dilute and infuse over 30–60 minutes.
Anaerobic infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IV	Every 12 h	For IV use dilute the verified phosphate preparation and infuse slowly.
Sepsis	11 mg/kg	IV	Every 12 h	Antibacterial choice must include the expected pathogens; add gram-negative coverage where needed.
Surgical prophylaxis	5–11 mg/kg	PO	Once	Administer 16–60 minutes before the procedure; covers susceptible gram-positive aerobes and anaerobes.
Intra-abdominal sepsis combination	Reference only	IV		Clindamycin 5–11 mg/kg IV, SC or orally every 8–12 hours for 5–7 days with a separate agent providing appropriate gram-negative coverage, such as gentamicin, a parenteral third-generation cephalosporin or enrofloxacin. Choose an actual combination rather than treating this as clindamycin monotherapy.
Historical pancreatitis treatment	Reference only	IV		Clindamycin 5–11 mg/kg IV/SC/orally every 8–12 hours for 3–5 days appears in older material. Uncomplicated sterile pancreatitis is not an indication for routine antibiotics; reserve treatment for a separate suspected or confirmed bacterial complication.
Pyoderma	11 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h	Up to 28 days; Historical course 7–28 days; reassess response and emerging resistance.
Wound, abscess or dental infection	5–11 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 28 days
Osteomyelitis	11 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 28 days
Systemic infection	3–10 mg/kg	IV, IM, SC, PO	Every 8 h	For IV administration, dilute and infuse slowly; use formulation-specific route compatibility.
Actinomycosis	5 mg/kg	SC	Every 12 h
Hepatobiliary infection	10–16 mg/kg	SC	Every 24 h
Hepatobiliary infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Hepatobiliary infection with impaired liver function	5 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Lower-dose oral alternative.
Hepatobiliary infection with impaired liver function	5 mg/kg	SC	Every 24 h
Respiratory bacterial infection	10 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 12 h
Toxoplasmosis	12.5 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Up to 28 days
Neospora combination treatment	Reference only	PO		Clindamycin 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for four weeks with trimethoprim/sulfonamide 15 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for four weeks; clindamycin route is not independently specified in that bullet.
Hepatozoon canis combination treatment	Reference only	PO		Clindamycin 10 mg/kg orally every eight hours with pyrimethamine 0.25 mg/kg daily and trimethoprim/sulfonamide 15 mg/kg every 12 hours for 2–4 weeks.
Hepatozoon americanum combination treatment	Reference only	PO		For 14 days: clindamycin 10 mg/kg orally every eight hours, trimethoprim/sulfonamide 15 mg/kg every 12 hours and pyrimethamine 0.25 mg/kg daily, followed by a long-term decoquinate plan after clinical resolution.
Historical Babesia adjunct	12.5 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 14 days; Not a substitute for a species-appropriate antibabesial plan.
Historical Babesia alternative	25 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 21 days; Source alternative for 7–21 days when specific antibabesial drugs are unavailable; does not establish eradication or preferred therapy.

Cats

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	5.5 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Bacterial infection	11 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Label-range bacterial infection treatment	11–33 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Refractory bacterial infection	33 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Anaerobic or periodontal infection	11–33 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Toxoplasmosis	12.5–25 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 28 days; Treatment course 4 weeks; clinical improvement does not guarantee organism eradication.
Parenteral bacterial infection treatment	10 mg/kg	IV, IM	Every 12 h	Clindamycin phosphate injection. For IV delivery, dilute and infuse over 30–60 minutes.
Anaerobic infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IV	Every 12 h	For IV use dilute the verified phosphate preparation and infuse slowly.
Sepsis	11 mg/kg	IV	Every 12 h	Antibacterial choice must include the expected pathogens; add gram-negative coverage where needed.
Surgical prophylaxis	5–11 mg/kg	PO	Once	Administer 16–60 minutes before the procedure; covers susceptible gram-positive aerobes and anaerobes.
Intra-abdominal sepsis combination	Reference only	IV		Clindamycin 5–11 mg/kg IV, SC or orally every 8–12 hours for 5–7 days with a separate agent providing appropriate gram-negative coverage, such as gentamicin, a parenteral third-generation cephalosporin or enrofloxacin. Choose an actual combination rather than treating this as clindamycin monotherapy.
Historical pancreatitis treatment	Reference only	IV		Clindamycin 5–11 mg/kg IV/SC/orally every 8–12 hours for 3–5 days appears in older material. Uncomplicated sterile pancreatitis is not an indication for routine antibiotics; reserve treatment for a separate suspected or confirmed bacterial complication.
Respiratory bacterial infection	10–15 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 12 h
Bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h
Wound, abscess or dental infection	11–33 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h	Up to 14 days; Reassess after 3–4 days without improvement; source product course maximum 14 days.
Enteroepithelial toxoplasmosis	8–16 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 8 h	Up to 28 days; Historical 14–28-day regimen; assess the actual indication and efficacy limitations.
Systemic toxoplasmosis	12.5–25 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 12 h	Up to 28 days; Historical course 14–28 days.
Historical toxoplasma shedding reduction	Reference only	PO		25–50 mg/kg orally daily was proposed to reduce shedding, but this is not a dependable stand-alone zoonotic-risk prevention strategy.
Clinical toxoplasmosis combination	Reference only	PO		Historical protocol: clindamycin 10 mg/kg orally every 12 hours, trimethoprim/sulfonamide 15 mg/kg every 12 hours and azithromycin 10 mg/kg daily for at least 28 days, with supportive care. Uveitis management requires separate assessment.

Ferrets

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infections	5–10 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h

Birds

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infections	25 mg/kg	PO	Every 8 h
Mild susceptible enteric infection	50 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Up to 10 days; Historical 5–10-day course.

Reptiles

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Anaerobic infection	5 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h
Anaerobic or mycoplasmal respiratory infection	5 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h	Up to 14 days

Indications

Treatment of susceptible bacterial skin, wound, abscess and soft-tissue infections in dogs and cats.
Treatment of susceptible periodontal and other oral infections, including infections involving anaerobic bacteria.
Treatment of susceptible osteomyelitis and other bone infections, especially in dogs.
Treatment of clinical toxoplasmosis in cats, including systemic, ocular and neurologic disease.
Treatment of selected clinical Neospora caninum infections in dogs, particularly early disease, with variable response.

Contraindications

Do not administer to rabbits or rodents.
Do not administer orally to horses or ruminants because severe enteritis and death can occur.
Avoid neonatal small-animal use where a safer effective alternative exists; severe hepatic or renal disease requires additional monitoring.

Interactions

Do not mix injectable clindamycin with other medicines in the same vial, syringe or IV line.
Can potentiate nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers.
Erythromycin may antagonize antibacterial activity; cyclosporine concentrations may fall.

Adverse effects

Vomiting and diarrhea
Esophageal injury in cats
Unpalatable oral liquid

Preparations

Preparation	Form	Strength	Route
Clindamycin 25 mg tablet	Tablet	25 mg / tablet	PO
Clindamycin 75 mg tablet	Tablet	75 mg / tablet	PO
Clindamycin 150 mg tablet	Tablet	150 mg / tablet	PO
Clindamycin 25 mg/mL oral liquid	Oral Liquid	25 mg / mL	PO
Clindamycin 25 mg capsule	Capsule	25 mg / capsule	PO
Clindamycin 75 mg capsule	Capsule	75 mg / capsule	PO
Clindamycin 150 mg capsule	Capsule	150 mg / capsule	PO
Clindamycin 300 mg capsule	Capsule	300 mg / capsule	PO
Clindamycin phosphate injection 150 mg/mL Clindamycin phosphate equivalent to 150 mg CLINDAMYCIN per mL. For IM or IV use; dilute before IV use and infuse slowly. Contains benzyl alcohol; do not refrigerate.	Injection	150 mg / mL	IV, IM

Monitoring and Administration

Ensure oral medication passes into the stomach; prevent dry-pill retention in the feline esophagus.

For intravenous use, the phosphate injection is diluted, commonly 10:1 in saline, and infused over 30–60 minutes. Benzyl-alcohol-containing injection requires additional care in very young animals.

Toxoplasmosis treatment may improve signs without eradicating infection; retain the full treatment duration.

Protect from freezing. The source describes two-week stability for reconstituted products and at least 60 days for some compounded preparations; these are not universal storage periods.

For treatment exceeding 30 days, periodically monitor CBC, hepatic and renal function. Human palmitate oral solution should remain at room temperature after reconstitution; refrigeration can thicken it.

The verified 150 mg/mL phosphate injection is expressed as active clindamycin equivalent, resolving the previous salt-mass mismatch. Do not infer the same equivalence for a differently labelled product.