Clindamycin Capsule

Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that excels against anaerobic bacteria and certain protozoal infections, making it a workhorse drug for dental and oral infections, deep bite wounds, bone and joint infections, and toxoplasmosis in cats. Sold as Antirobe (capsules and oral liquid) and Clintabs (tablets), and also widely available as a generic, clindamycin penetrates well into bone, abscesses, and dental tissues, which is why it is often the antibiotic of choice for these infections.

What clindamycin is used for

Common indications include periodontal disease and dental abscesses, infected fractures and osteomyelitis, deep bite-wound infections (particularly cat-bite abscesses), pyoderma in dogs caused by susceptible bacteria, and toxoplasmosis in cats. Clindamycin is also occasionally used to treat Neospora caninum infections in dogs. Treatment courses range from 7–10 days for simple soft-tissue infections to 4–6 weeks (or longer) for bone infections and toxoplasmosis.

Important considerations

Always give clindamycin with a full chase of water — particularly in cats — because clindamycin tablets and capsules can lodge in the esophagus and cause strictures if they sit there. Follow each dose with food, a small amount of water from a syringe, or a treat the cat has to swallow. Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite; rare but serious effects include severe colitis, blood-cell changes, and esophageal injury. Do not use in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, or horses — clindamycin can cause fatal disruption of the gut flora in these species. Use cautiously in pets with significant liver or kidney disease.

Smarty Vets dispenses Antirobe capsules and oral liquid, Clintabs tablets, and pharmacy-compounded clindamycin liquids from a licensed veterinary pharmacy with a valid prescription.

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