Clindamycin for dogs is an antibiotic that is a prescription veterinary drug.
Clindamycin is used or administered when the dog has a bacterial infection.
The following guide explains what you are doing Use, dosage and side effects of clindamycin in dogs have to pay special attention.
Clindamycin for dogs: what is it and what is it used for?
Clindamycin is one of the antibiotics that can and, more importantly, may be used in dogs – this is not the case with every antibiotic.
Clindamycin is primarily administered to dogs if they are under a so-called pyoderma suffer from a purulent skin inflammation.
But clindamycin is also used for the following bacterial infections:
- inflammation of the throat
- Toxoplasmosis in dogs
- Infected, suppurating wounds
- bone infections
- clostridia
Bacterial infections can also be present as secondary infections. One speaks of such when they have occurred as a result of a viral infection.
In general, clindamycin can be the right antibiotic whenever there is inflammation caused by the following bacteria:
- Bacteroides spp.
- Streptococcus spp.
- Staphylococcus spp.
- Clostridium perfringens
- Frusobacterium necrophorum
Clindamycin is the active antibiotic in Clindaseptil for dogs, among others.
Important
Antibiotics should never be administered on your own, as they are often not absolutely necessary. It only occurs when the veterinarian specifies clindamycin as the treatment.
Proper use and dosage of clindamycin in dogs
Proper dosage of clindamycin in dogs starts at 5.5 mg clindamycin per kilogram body weight of the fur nose.
But why «starts from»? The dosage depends largely on the infection against which clindamycin is used.
Accordingly, the dosages of clindamycin in dogs can be as follows:
- Osteomyelitis: clindamycin 5.5 to 11 mg twice daily every 12 hours
- Toxoplasmosis: 10 to 40 mg clindamycin in 3 doses per day
- Pyoderma: clindamycin 5.5 mg twice daily every 12 hours
The dog gets the right number of tablets directly into its mouth. To make pill administration easier, you can use a pill syringe.
Please note that repeated courses of clindamycin may be harmful for a number of reasons.
On the one hand, the dog’s intestinal flora is permanently stressed and thrown out of balance.
On the other hand, the bacteria against which clindamycin is supposed to help can develop resistance and thus render clindamycin ineffective.
Good to know
Since the intestinal flora is severely affected by clindamycin, we recommend the parallel administration of a probiotic such as Flora Complex for dogs.
How quickly does clindamycin work in dogs?
The effects of clindamycin should be observed in the treated dog have occurred after four days at the latest.
If you cannot see any significant improvements in the health of your four-legged friend after this time, it makes sense to look for a better and more effective alternative among the possible antibiotics with your veterinarian.
The duration of use of clindamycin in dogs depends on the type of disease, as does the dosage.
The following time windows apply here:
- Toxoplasmosis: several weeks
- Osteomyelitis: 4 to 12 weeks
- Pyoderma: from 7 to 10 days to 21 to 91 days
What side effects can clindamycin cause in dogs?
Like many antibiotics for dogs, clindamycin causes problems in the gastrointestinal tract as side effects, so especially diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Although such side effects are unpleasant for the dog, they are not among the worrying side effects.
However, it makes sense to keep a close eye on your dog’s reactions to the antibiotic.
Treatment with clindamycin should be stopped immediately, especially if the side effects are not listed in the package insert.
The administration of clindamycin can also trigger so-called superinfections. It is a secondary infection in dogs.
Here, too, treatment with clindamycin in the dog should be stopped immediately.
One of the reasons is that the dog’s immune system is too weak to deal with another infection.
When should I not use clindamycin on my dog?
You should not give your dog clindamycin if he has a Hypersensitivity to the antibiotic has.
Therapy with clindamycin is also excluded in dogs that suffer from metabolic disorders, some of which are severe, in which the kidneys and liver are affected, among other things.
A gift to pregnant or lactating bitches should be clarified in advance with the veterinarian. The same applies to a clindamycin administration to very young dogs.
Where is clindamycin for dogs available?
Veterinary medicinal products containing clindamycin only available from veterinarians or pharmacies.
As with all antibiotics, it is an active substance that requires a prescription/prescription.
What alternatives are there to clindamycin for dogs?
One of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for dogs is amoxicillinwhich is one of the alternatives to clindamycin represents.
It is also a broad spectrum antibiotic in combination with clavulanic acid, but can also be used without clavulanic acid.
Depending on the condition, doxycycline for dogs is also an antibiotic that can be an alternative to clindamycin.
As always, the following applies: Alternatives and their use and dosage are always only after consultation with the treating veterinarian.
What experiences has your dog already had with clindamycin for dogs? We would be happy if you share your experiences and possible tips with us in the comments.