Contraindicated in Mouse, Pet Rat, Gerbil, Prairie Dog, Horse (Equine), Cattle / Sheep / Goat, Rabbit, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu, Guinea Pig
Mouse: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in MousePlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Pet Rat: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Pet RatPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Gerbil: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in GerbilPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Prairie Dog: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Prairie DogPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Horse (Equine): Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Horse (Equine)Plumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Cattle / Sheep / Goat: Lincosamides cause fatal diarrhea in Cattle / Sheep / GoatPlumb's states of the lincosamides: "Do NOT give this medicine to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs, as it may cause fatal diarrhea," and elsewhere that "the lincosamides are considered contraindicated for use in horses, ruminants, rabbits." The mechanism is the same selective destruction of gram-positive gut flora that kills rabbits. Added 2026-08-11 after an audit found this species unreachable by any token, so this warning could never fire for it.
Rabbit: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsSame mechanism as oral beta-lactams — selective destruction of gram-positive hindgut flora. Never administer oral clindamycin or lincomycin to rabbits.
Chinchilla: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasClindamycin and lincomycin destroy gram-positive hindgut flora and precipitate fatal Clostridium enterotoxemia in chinchillas. Never administer.
Hamster: Oral lincosamides cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersClindamycin and lincomycin are among the antibiotics that induce fatal Clostridium difficile enterocolitis in hamsters. Never administer.
Degu: Oral lincosamides risk fatal dysbiosis in degusExtrapolated from chinchillas and guinea pigs (shared caviomorph hindgut physiology): oral clindamycin/lincomycin should be treated as contraindicated in degus.
Guinea Pig: Oral lincosamides cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsClindamycin and lincomycin cause the same fatal Clostridium enterotoxemia in guinea pigs as oral beta-lactams. Never administer.
Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Clindamycin is dosed at 5.5–10 mg/kg PO q12h in ferrets, per Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.932 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Ferrets). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 13 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 12 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.282, Clindamycin monograph spanning p.282-285. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.283, Clindamycin monograph.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· 289. Flammer K. Common bacterial infections and antibiotic use in companion birds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Exotics; Supplement to Comp Cont Edu Pract Vet. 1998;20(3A):34-48. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.411 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 358. Grimm F, Serbest E. The therapy of osteomyelitis with clindamycin in patients suffering from fractures. Proc VIII Tagung über Vogelkrankheiten, München; 1992:252-254. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.411 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
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· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, lookup p.411, row "100 mg/kg PO q12h ×7 days702 — Psi acines"; superscript 702 → Phalen DN. Common bacterial and fungal infectious diseases in pet birds. Suppl Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 2003;25:43-48 (resolved via ref lookup, carpenter refs p.597). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary [Association]; Bodley K. Appendix 4. Drug Formulary. In: Vogelnest L, Portas T, eds. Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals; CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Vic; 2019:702-727. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).