Clindamycin Oral Rinse for Dogs

Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg

Clindamycin Oral Rinse is dosed at 5.5–11 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per ANTIROBE - Clindamycin Hydrochloride Capsules and Oral Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis Inc.; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a2224602-6f04-4b83-968a-8c193230998f — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.108 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.108' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.92; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.92. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705. Clindamycin Oral Rinse is used in dogs for Dental infections, osteomyelitis. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Clindamycin Oral Rinse in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Antirobe Aquadrops

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.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5.5–11 mg/kg	q12h	7-28 days depending on severity	Dental infections, osteomyelitis	Strong	ANTIROBE - Clindamycin Hydrochloride Capsules and Oral Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis Inc.; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a2224602-6f04-4b83-968a-8c193230998f — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.108 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.108' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.92; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.92. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
5.5	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.108	• 5.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h or 11 mg/kg q24h; in severe infection can increase to 11 mg/kg q12h. •
11	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.108	q12h or 11 mg/kg q24h; in severe infection can increase to 11 mg/kg q12h. • Toxoplasmosis/neosporosis: 25 mg/kg p.o. daily in divided doses
25	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.108	ease to 11 mg/kg q12h. • Toxoplasmosis/neosporosis: 25 mg/kg p.o. daily in divided doses

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Mechanism of action

Lincosamide antibiotic with excellent bone and dental tissue penetration. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis at 50S ribosomal subunit.

Side effects & warnings

GI upset possible. Concentrates in bone, making it ideal for dental/osteomyelitis infections. Avoid in rabbits and rodents (fatal enterocolitis).

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Clindamycin Oral Rinse for Dogs?

Clindamycin Oral Rinse dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5.5–11 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Clindamycin Oral Rinse administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Clindamycin Oral Rinse in dogs: PO.

How long is Clindamycin Oral Rinse given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Clindamycin Oral Rinse in dogs include: 7-28 days depending on severity. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Clindamycin Oral Rinse treat in Dogs?

Clindamycin Oral Rinse is indicated in dogs for: Dental infections, osteomyelitis.

What are the side effects of Clindamycin Oral Rinse in Dogs?

These are general warnings for Clindamycin Oral Rinse across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. GI upset possible. Concentrates in bone, making it ideal for dental/osteomyelitis infections. Avoid in rabbits and rodents (fatal enterocolitis).

Other Dental drugs with dog dosing

Doxirobe Gel

Clindamycin Oral Rinse dosing in other species

Cats

See all species for Clindamycin Oral Rinse See all drugs for Dogs

Why a species-specific page? Clindamycin Oral Rinse pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.

Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.