Clindamycin

There may be a good chance that you know of the drug clindamycin through having been prescribed it yourself. Clindamycin (which can go by the brand names Clinsol®, Cleocin®, Antirobe®, or Clintabs®) is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

It can also be applied to deep tissue wounds and gum infections and other conditions we’ll explore later. 

But is clindamycin for dogs the same as for humans? Yes, absolutely. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the use of clindamycin in canine meaning that dogs can take clindamycin if they are suffering from a range of afflictions.

In this useful guide to clindamycin for dogs, you’ll learn:

• That you should store your clindamycin at room temperature
• That clindamycin is great at tackling bacterial infections that can arise after surgery
• Never to give a double dose of clindamycin if you forget one dose
• That side effects to using clindamycin can include diarrhea and vomiting

How can clindamycin help my dog?

So, what is clindamycin used for in dogs? Great question. It can treat dental infections, pyoderma, toxoplasmosis, bone infections, babesiosis, wounds, abscesses, bacterial skin infections, and deep staphylococcal pyoderma. 

After something like a tooth extraction, your dog may be struggling with an infection in its mouth. Clindamycin will help fight this bacterial infection, often in the form of a topical clindamycin hydrochloride gel. 

After something like an abscess, the common complications — inflammation and pus near the wound — can be treated with clindamycin for around three weeks. In the mouth, an abscess will only require about 10 days of clindamycin.

Would a vet prescribe clindamycin for a dog ear infection? Yes. Known as otitis interna, a bacterial dog ear infection could be treated with an antibiotic like clindamycin (or cefpodoxime, amoxicillin-clavulanate, or enrofloxacin). The course would last at least six to eight weeks.

You should always take care of your dog’s health as best you can. With our online tool you can compare the best insurance plans in the country to see which is the best for you and your dog. 

Dosage & administration

You should try to store the clindamycin — in whichever form you’ve chosen — in an airtight container that’s kept away from the sun and is at room temperature. (Don’t keep it in your fridge, in other words.)

The normal clindamycin dosage for dogs is based on the weight of the dog. It’s usually 5mg of clindamycin per pound of dog every 12 hours, or 10mg per pound of dog every 24 hours orally.

If you give your dog the clindamycin in the form of a pill, never do so without some kind of moisture to help it go down smoothly. A drink or a moist treat will do the trick. This will prevent the pill becoming stuck in your dog’s throat or esophagus, where it could cause an ulcer.

Because the taste of clindamycin is bitter, you may need to hide it in your dog’s food in order to convince them to eat it. 

What happens if you forget to give your dog a dose? Don’t panic; you can give it to them whenever you remember. If, however, you find that it’s almost time to administer the next dose, just skip the one you missed, stick to your schedule, and you’ll have one more clindamycin appointment to remember. 

Remember — never to give your dog two doses of the drug at the same time.

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Side effects of Clindamycin

There are, unfortunately, various potential side effects of clindamycin in dogs. Your dog may display some (or none) of the following:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Blood in stools
• Loss of appetite
• Allergic reactions
• Gastrointestinal problems 

If you’re at all worried about a reaction your dog has had to clindamycin, you should contact your vet — especially if your dog has bloody diarrhea or difficulty swallowing or eating their food. 

Keep on top of your dog’s health by taking out a wellness plan that will cover important aspects of your dog’s care like urine tests and physical exams.

Cost

Safety considerations

Of course, if you know that your dog is allergic to clindamycin, don’t give them any. But there are drugs that are similar to clindamycin — azithromycin and lincomycin — that are so similar that an allergy to them will also mean clindamycin is dangerous. 

It may also be adversely affected by neuromuscular blocking agents like pancuronium. 

Before your vet gives your dog clindamycin, make sure they’re fully informed about whatever other drugs it may be taking.

If your pet has suffered kidney or liver damage, you’ll need to be careful when giving them clindamycin. Your vet may want to do kidney and liver function tests if your dog has been taking the medication for more than 30 days. 

If you have a guinea pig, hamster, rabbit or chinchilla, you shouldn’t be giving them clindamycin at all, as you risk them suffering fatal gastrointestinal dysbiosis.

It’s crucial that you tell your vet about any other medications that your dog is taking because clindamycin can interact harmfully with them. These medications can include herbal therapies, supplements, and vitamins.

If you’re on the lookout for food to give your dog, we’d recommend checking out the resources at Dog Food Advisor, who can tell you everything you need to know about the ins and outs of canine nutrition.