DogSource: Antirobe (Pfizer) / Greene & Watson 1998
Wound/abscess/dental infection: 5.5–11 mg/kg · every 12 h · 7–28 days
Antibiotic Therapy
Clindamycin
Lincosamide · active against Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria
Species: Dogs & Cats21 dose protocols5 dosage forms
This page is a calculation and educational reference for veterinarians and veterinary students. It does not replace examination, culture and susceptibility testing, clinical judgment, or the attending veterinarian's final decision.
Drug overview
Lincosamide · active against Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria
Brand names: Antirobe®, Cleocin®
General dose: 5.5–11 mg/kg · every 12 h · POSource: Plumb's (general)
Spectrum of activity
Clindamycin (a lincosamide) is active against aerobic Gram-positive cocci — staphylococci (including penicillinase-producing strains) and streptococci — but is inactive against enterococci (Strep. faecalis). Its main strength is broad anaerobic cover: both Gram-negative anaerobes (Bacteroides including many B. fragilis strains, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Porphyromonas) and Gram-positive anaerobes (Peptostreptococcus, Peptococcus, Actinomyces, Cutibacterium and Clostridium perfringens/tetani — but not C. difficile). It is also active against Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Mycoplasma and the protozoan Toxoplasma. Unlike metronidazole it also covers the Gram-positive anaerobes above the diaphragm (mouth/respiratory tract) and is a good complement to it. It has no activity against aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (Enterobacteriaceae/E. coli, Pseudomonas, Pasteurella); so it is not suitable alone for Gram-negative infections — such as a bite wound where Pasteurella predominates.
Veterinary uses and doses
Skin, soft tissue & dental
DogSource: ISCAID 2025
Superficial pyoderma (bacterial folliculitis): 11 mg/kg · every 12 h
Clinical note: Per ISCAID (2025) the recommended dose is 11 mg/kg every 12 h; although 5.5 mg/kg every 12 h has also been effective in studies, the higher dose gives a more consistent response. The course is at least 2 weeks, and the patient should be reassessed before its end to decide whether to continue or stop. In recurrent pyoderma, resistance develops quickly.
DogSource: Greene & Watson 1998
Osteomyelitis: 11 mg/kg · every 12 h · up to 28 days
CatSource: Jenkins 1987 / Trepanier 1999
General bacterial: 5–10 mg/kg · every 12 h
CatSource: Antirobe (Pfizer)
Wound/abscess/dental infection: 11–33 mg/kg · once daily · up to 14 days
Clinical note: If no clinical response within 3–4 days, do not continue; the maximum labeled course is 14 days.
Anaerobic & systemic infection
DogSource: Greene & Jang 2006
Anaerobic infection: 5–10 mg/kg · every 12 h
DogSource: Hardie 2000
Sepsis/bacteremia: 11 mg/kg IV · every 12 h
DogSource: Greene 2006
Intra-abdominal infection/pancreatitis: 5–11 mg/kg · every 8–12 h · 3–7 days
Combination therapy: with gentamicin or a 3rd-generation cephalosporin (e.g. cefotaxime) or enrofloxacin — for Gram-negative cover
DogSource: Greene & Reinero 2006
Respiratory infection: 10 mg/kg · every 12 h
Clinical note: Clindamycin does not cover Gram-negative bacilli; in respiratory infection it is mainly used for anaerobic/aspiration or mycoplasmal infections. If a Gram-negative agent is suspected, combine it with suitable cover (e.g. a fluoroquinolone).
DogSource: Center 2006
Hepatobiliary infection: 5–10 mg/kg PO · every 12 h
Clinical note: In hepatic dysfunction: 5 mg/kg PO every 12 h or SC every 24 h.
DogSource: Edwards 2006
Actinomycosis: 5 mg/kg SC · every 12 h
DogSource: Greene & Jang 2006
Surgical prophylaxis (Gram-positive + anaerobic): 5–11 mg/kg PO, 16–60 min before surgery
CatSource: Greene & Jang 2006
Anaerobic infection: 5–10 mg/kg · every 12 h
CatSource: Hardie 2000
Sepsis: 11 mg/kg IV · every 12 h
CatSource: Greene 2006
Intra-abdominal infection/pancreatitis: 5–11 mg/kg · every 8–12 h · 3–7 days
Combination therapy: with gentamicin or a 3rd-generation cephalosporin (e.g. cefotaxime) or enrofloxacin — for Gram-negative cover
CatSource: Greene & Reinero 2006
Respiratory infection: 10–15 mg/kg · every 12 h
Clinical note: Clindamycin does not cover Gram-negative bacilli; in respiratory infection it is mainly used for anaerobic/aspiration or mycoplasmal infections. If a Gram-negative agent is suspected, combine it with suitable cover.
CatSource: Greene & Jang 2006
Surgical prophylaxis: 5–11 mg/kg PO, 16–60 min before surgery
Protozoal
DogSource: Lappin 2004
Toxoplasmosis: 10–12.5 mg/kg · every 12 h · at least 4 weeks
DogSource: MSD/CAPC
Neospora: 12.5–25 mg/kg · every 12 h · 4–8 weeks
Combination therapy: with trimethoprim/sulfa 15–20 mg/kg every 12 h or pyrimethamine 1 mg/kg every 24 h
Clinical note: Start treatment early (even on clinical suspicion, before test results are back); clindamycin acts on tachyzoites, not bradyzoites. With CNS involvement, a course of up to 8 weeks is often needed.
CatSource: ABCD 2024 / Lappin 2004
Clinical toxoplasmosis (drug of choice): 10–12.5 mg/kg · every 12 h · at least 4 weeks
Clinical note: The drug of choice for feline toxoplasmosis. Non-ocular/non-neurologic signs usually improve within 2–3 days (ocular and neurologic forms respond more slowly). In uveitis, add topical prednisolone acetate 3–4 times daily.
CatSource: Lappin / ABCD 2024
Reducing oocyst shedding (reducing zoonotic risk): 10–12.5 mg/kg · every 12 h · 2–4 weeks
Clinical note: The effective dose for reducing shedding is the same as the clinical-treatment dose (10–12.5 mg/kg every 12 h, ~20–25 mg/kg per day); in a study, ~20 mg/kg per day stopped oocyst shedding. Important: oocyst shedding is usually a single, brief event (3–10 days after first infection) and a seropositive cat does not usually shed again; the main way to reduce zoonosis is hygiene and environmental management (daily litter-box changes, processed food, preventing hunting). This treatment is used only in selected cases.
Dosage forms
- Capsule 150 mg
- Capsule 300 mg
- Capsule 75 mg (veterinary product)
- Oral solution 25 mg/mL (veterinary product)
- Ampoule 300 mg/2 mL (phosphate)
Safety and clinical notes
- Strictly contraindicated in horses, ruminants, rabbits and rodents (hamster, guinea pig, chinchilla); it can cause diarrhea and fatal enterotoxemia.
- Do not use in animals hypersensitive to clindamycin or lincomycin.
- Use with caution and a reduced dose in severe hepatic or renal impairment; for treatment longer than 30 days, periodic liver, kidney and blood-cell counts are recommended.
- In cats, always give solid forms (tablet/capsule) with food or at least 6 mL of water; “dry pilling” risks esophagitis and esophageal stricture.
- Do not use together with macrolides (erythromycin/azithromycin) (antagonism); it has an additive effect with neuromuscular blockers.
- Do not mix the injectable ampoule in one syringe/line with ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, aminophylline or ranitidine (incompatibility).
- Common adverse effects: vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea (rarely bloody in dogs); IM injection is painful.
- Usually avoided in neonatal dogs and cats.
Cited sources
- Plumb's (general)
- Antirobe (Pfizer) / Greene & Watson 1998
- ISCAID 2025
- Greene & Watson 1998
- Greene & Jang 2006
- Hardie 2000
- Greene 2006
- Greene & Reinero 2006
- Center 2006
- Edwards 2006
- Lappin 2004
- MSD/CAPC
- Jenkins 1987 / Trepanier 1999
- Antirobe (Pfizer)
- ABCD 2024 / Lappin 2004
- Lappin / ABCD 2024
Calculate a weight-based dose
Drug-data last updated: