Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Clindamycin 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 Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.311 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.282, Clindamycin monograph spanning p.282-285; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Clindamycin is used in dogs for Skin infections (wounds, abscesses) and dental infections, Toxoplasmosis. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Clindamycin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Antirobe, Cleocin
Contraindicated in Mouse, Pet Rat, Gerbil, Prairie Dog, Horse (Equine), Cattle / Sheep / Goat, Rabbit, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu, Guinea Pig
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5.5–11 mg/kg | q12h | 14-28 days for bone infections | Skin infections (wounds, abscesses) and dental infections | 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 Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.311 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.282, Clindamycin monograph spanning p.282-285; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| PO | 12.5–25 mg/kg | q12h | 14-21 days | Toxoplasmosis | Moderate |
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.
| 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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Binds 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Bacteriostatic; bactericidal at high concentrations.
CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and chinchillas (fatal dysbiosis). Good bone penetration. May cause GI upset, esophagitis in cats.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Clindamycin dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5.5–11 mg/kg q12h; PO 12.5–25 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Clindamycin in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Clindamycin in dogs include: 14-28 days for bone infections; 14-21 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Clindamycin is indicated in dogs for: Skin infections (wounds, abscesses) and dental infections, Toxoplasmosis.
These are general warnings for Clindamycin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and chinchillas (fatal dysbiosis). Good bone penetration. May cause GI upset, esophagitis in cats.
Why a species-specific page? Clindamycin 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.
| 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 Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.311 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.282, Clindamycin monograph spanning p.282-285; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| 11 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | • Staphylococcal infections: 11 mg/kg q12h PO or 22 mg/kg q24h PO. (Label |
| 22 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | • Staphylococcal infections: 11 mg/kg q12h PO or 22 mg/kg q24h PO. (Label |
| 5.5–33 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | dose for dogs is 5.5-33 mg/kg q12h PO.) |
| 33 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | • Refractory infections: Doses up to 33 mg/kg q12h PO. C |
| 11–33 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | • Anaerobic infections and periodontal infections: 11-33 mg/kg q12h PO. |
| 10 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.199 | • 10 mg/kg q12h IV or IM. (For IV use, it should be diluted and administered by |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.