Clindamycin
Generic Name
Clindamycin
Indications/Uses
Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic, which is used in the treatment of infections caused by microorganisms such as anaerobic bacteria. The drug is mainly used to treat oral infections, dental diseases, abscesses, deep wounds, and bone infections. Clindamycin is also a pet antibiotic prescribed to cure dental and bone infections in dogs and cats such as gingivitis, periodontitis and osteomyelitis, pus filled infection sites, bite wounds, abscess, post surgery and pneumonia and respiratory infections. Clindamycin is used to treat cats suffering from toxoplasmosis.
Precautions
Clindamycin should not be used in animals that are allergic to it. Use with extreme care when it’s prescribed with neuromuscular blocking agents. Clindamycin could be consumed with or without food. Nursing puppies or kittens have chances of developing diarrhea as the medication could pass via the milk. Periodic liver and kidney tests should also be done if the pet is on this medication for more than one month.
Side Effects
Clindamycin must not be prescribed for pets with kidney and liver problems. Some of the major side effects of Clindamycin include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and weight loss. Certain pet medications, including some antibiotics, must not be used in conjunction with clindamycin.
Dosage Information
Clindamycin for pets is available in oral capsules of variable dosage or as an oral dose liquid suspension aquadrop for hard-to-pill pets. Clindamycin is available as 25mg, 150mg capsules and as drops containing 25mg/1ml. The drops must be stored at room temperature. Clindamycin is FDA approved for use in dogs. But, veterinarians have the usual practice to use clindamycin in cats too. The usual dose of Clindamycin for dogs is 2.5mg-5mg/pound every 12 hours. The usual dose for cats is 5-10mg/pound every 24 hours. The length of the entire treatment depends on the condition of the pet as well as its response to the treatment.
Brand Names
Antirobe, Antirobe Aquadrops, Cleocin, Dalacin,and Evoclin.