Clindamycin for Ferrets

Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg

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). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350. Clindamycin is used in ferrets for Anaerobic infections; bone and dental disease. Routes documented in ferrets: PO. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Clindamycin in ferrets, 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

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	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5.5–10 mg/kg	q12h	Anaerobic infections; bone and dental disease	Weak	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). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

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
5.5–11	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.95	5.5-11 mg/kg p.o. q12h (toxoplasmosis: 12.5-25 mg/kg p.o. q12h)
12.5–25	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.95	5.5-11 mg/kg p.o. q12h (toxoplasmosis: 12.5-25 mg/kg p.o. q12h)
5.5–10	PO	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.1	5.5-10 mg/kg PO q12h
12.5	PO

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Mechanism of action

Binds 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Bacteriostatic; bactericidal at high concentrations.

Side effects & warnings

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 ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Clindamycin for Ferrets?

Clindamycin dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: PO 5.5–10 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Clindamycin administered in Ferrets?

Documented routes for Clindamycin in ferrets: PO.

What conditions does Clindamycin treat in Ferrets?

Clindamycin is indicated in ferrets for: Anaerobic infections; bone and dental disease.

What are the side effects of Clindamycin in Ferrets?

These are general warnings for Clindamycin across species; consult the ferret 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.

Other Antibiotic drugs with ferret dosing

Amoxicillin Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Ampicillin Cefadroxil Cefovecin Cephalexin Chloramphenicol Ciprofloxacin Clarithromycin Cloxacillin Doxycycline Enrofloxacin

Clindamycin dosing in other species

African Pygmy Hedgehogs Mice Pet Rats Sugar Gliders African Grey Parrots Cats Dogs Domestic Pigeons

See all species for Clindamycin See all drugs for Ferrets

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 ferrets — 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.