What is Lincomycin used for?

Lincomycin is indicated for: Gram-positive and anaerobic infections.

Which species have cited Lincomycin dosing data?

Lincomycin dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 1 species: Dog (Domestic).

Is Lincomycin a controlled substance?

Lincomycin is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Lincomycin

US brand names:Lincocin

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Contraindicated in Rabbit, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu, Guinea Pig

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.

Lincomycin is dosed at 15–25 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per LINCOCIN® TABLETS- Lincomycin Hydrochloride Monohydrate Tablet [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2017. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.788 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

POIMIV

Indications

Gram-positive and anaerobic infections

Mechanism of Action

Binds 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Activity against gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria.

Side effects & warnings

CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). GI upset. Pseudomembranous colitis risk. Give on empty stomach.

Species with Lincomycin dosing data (2 dose rules)

Dog (Domestic)

Species references:All Dog (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Moderate×2

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 2 published sources

· LINCOCIN® TABLETS- Lincomycin Hydrochloride Monohydrate Tablet [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2017. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.788 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Lincomycin, DOGS, printed p.761 (lookup p.788); superscript 8 → LINCOCIN - Lincomycin Hydrochloride Monohydrate Liquid (Solution) [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2019 (resolved via plumbref). Independently corroborated: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed printed p.231 (lookup p.247): "Dogs, Cats: Parenteral: 22 mg/kg i.m. q24h or 11 mg/kg i.m. q12h or 11-22 mg/kg slow i.v. q12-24h."

Sample dosing (2 of 2 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 1 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.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	15–25 mg/kg	q12h	Moderate	LINCOCIN® TABLETS- Lincomycin Hydrochloride Monohydrate Tablet [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2017. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.788 (2026-08-01).
Dog (Domestic)	IM	11 mg/kg	q12h (label alternative: 22 mg/kg IM q24h)	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Lincomycin, DOGS, printed p.761 (lookup p.788); superscript 8 → LINCOCIN - Lincomycin Hydrochloride Monohydrate Liquid (Solution) [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2019 (resolved via plumbref). Independently corroborated: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed printed p.231 (lookup p.247): "Dogs, Cats: Parenteral: 22 mg/kg i.m. q24h or 11 mg/kg i.m. q12h or 11-22 mg/kg slow i.v. q12-24h."

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