What Is Clindamycin?
Clindamycin (brand names: Antirobe, Cleocin, Clinsol, Clintabs, ZydaClin) is a medicine used in dogs and cats to treat a wide variety of infections. It is also used to prevent infections from surgery and invasive dental procedures. Clindamycin is classified as a lincosamide antibiotic. It is effective against many types of bacteria, including staphylococcus, other gram-positive bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria, which can live without oxygen. It is also effective against some microbes called protozoa, including toxoplasmosis.
Clindamycin is approved by the FDA in products specifically for dogs and cats, as well as products for humans, which can also be used “extra-label” or “off-label” in animals. This means that there is evidence of safe and effective use, even if FDA approval has not been received for the specific use or animal.
Clindamycin is available from your veterinarian or from a veterinary or human pharmacy with a prescription. It comes in various doses in oral tablets, capsules, and liquid forms. It is also available as a human product for injection that can be used in animals. Contact your veterinary compounding pharmacy for other dosing options.
How Is Clindamycin Used in Pets?
Clindamycin is given by mouth as a tablet, capsule, or liquid. It can also be given by injection in a veterinary hospital. It is usually given every 12 hours for the length of the prescription. Depending on the infection, it may need to be given every eight hours or once a day instead. When used for prevention of infection from surgery or dental procedures, the dose and interval may be different.
Clindamycin can be given with or without food. If given on an empty stomach and vomiting occurs, try giving it with a small amount of food or a treat. The tablet and capsule forms should be followed with a small amount of food or water so it won’t irritate your pet’s throat.
The oral liquid suspension should be correctly measured using the provided dosing dropper or syringe before giving. Slowly put liquid medicines into a pet’s mouth so that they receive all of the dose.
Always follow your veterinarian’s directions for giving medicines to animals. Remember to tell your veterinarian about any medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies that you are giving your pet. Talk to your veterinarian before stopping any pet medicines.
What Are the Benefits of Clindamycin for Dogs and Cats?
The benefits of clindamycin include:
- Clindamycin is effective against a variety of infections.
- It can reach the brain where many other antibiotics can’t reach, so it can be used for infections in the central nervous system.
- Clindamycin has a good safety profile.
- It comes in a variety of formulations, so it can be easy to use.
What Follow-Up Is Required With Clindamycin?
You and your veterinarian should monitor your pet for improvement of their condition, as well as for side effects of the medicine. Before starting your pet on clindamycin, your veterinarian may perform a test to confirm that your pet is taking the best antibiotic for their condition. This is called a bacterial culture and sensitivity test. It can take several days to get the results of the test, but the veterinarian may want you to start the medicine before the results are back. They may wish to change the medicine when the results return.
If your pet is going to be taking clindamycin for a long time, your veterinarian may also do blood tests to make sure that the medicine is not causing any serious problems, such as kidney or liver damage.
Does Clindamycin Have Warnings or Side Effects in Pets?
Do not use clindamycin in animals that are allergic to it or to lincomycin. Use it with caution in animals that are pregnant or nursing. Use clindamycin with caution in pets that have kidney or liver disease. Use caution when giving your pet a clindamycin tablet or capsule, as it can irritate the throat if not followed by food or water.
Side effects are usually related to the gastrointestinal system (stomach and intestines) and may include:
- Vomiting
- Loose stool or diarrhea
- Excessive drooling or lip smacking (cats)
- Throat damage (with dry pills)
If clindamycin causes side effects, stop the medicine and contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options depending on the side effects and may recommend switching to a different antibiotic. Your veterinarian may recommend starting a probiotic to help change your pet’s gut flora, which are the “good” bacteria that live in your pet’s intestines.
While there is a low risk of severe side effects, too much clindamycin can cause serious problems. The kidneys or liver can be harmed.
If you suspect that your pet is having a serious side effect or may have been overdosed, call your veterinary clinic right away. If it is outside of regular office hours, you may contact a local emergency veterinary hospital or an animal poison control center. Note that fees may apply for emergency consultation.
You can reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
Does Clindamycin Interact With Other Medicines (Drug Interactions)?
Using multiple medicines can sometimes change how your pet’s medicines work or increase your pet’s risk of serious side effects. Always tell your veterinarian about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements that your pet is using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if your pet is using any of the following before using clindamycin:
Medicines that can alter drug metabolism. Clindamycin is metabolized by an enzyme called cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP-3A). Many other medicines can change how well CYP-3A works in your pet. This can cause clindamycin to not work as well, or it can increase the risk of clindamycin side effects. Make sure that your veterinarian knows all of the medicines that your pet is getting.
Medicines that can damage the kidneys. Many medicines can cause problems with the kidneys. Clindamycin is one of them. If your pet gets multiple medicines that can cause this, there may be an increased risk of kidney damage.
Neuromuscular blockers. Neuromuscular blockers like atracurium and pancuronium are used for anesthesia and to make it easier to insert a tube in your pet’s windpipe in an emergency. Clindamycin can increase the effects of these medicines.
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with clindamycin. Always check with your veterinarian.
Are There Safety Concerns for Pet Owners?
- Keep clindamycin out of the reach of children.
- Wash your hands after giving clindamycin to your pet.
- Do not handle clindamycin if you are allergic to it or to lincomycin.
What if My Pet Takes Too Much Medicine or Has an Overdose? What if I Miss a Dose of Medication?
To prevent accidental ingestion of clindamycin, the package should be stored in a secure location out of the reach of the pet. If you suspect your pet has taken more clindamycin than prescribed, call your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic right away.
If you realize that you missed a dose of your pet’s medicine, you can give that dose if it is close to the original scheduled time. If it is closer to the next dosing time, skip the missed dose completely and give the next dose at the correct time. Do not double the dose of the medicine, but make sure that the pet finishes the whole course of the prescription.
How Do I Store Clindamycin?
All forms of clindamycin should be stored at room temperature. The liquid solution that is formulated for humans comes as a powder that is mixed with water when dispensed from the pharmacy. It should be discarded 14 days after it has been mixed. Follow the instructions for storage on the package if the clindamycin is compounded.
