Lincomycin for Canaries

Bird · Serinus canaria domestica · typical adult weight 0.01–0.03 kg

Lincomycin is dosed at 35–50 mg/kg PO q12-24h in canaries, per Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416 doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Lincomycin is used in canaries for Anaerobic bacterial infection (passerines), Anaerobic bacterial infection. Routes documented in canaries: PO, PO (drinking water). A typical adult canary weighs 0.01–0.03 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Lincomycin in canaries, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Lincocin

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	35–50 mg/kg	q12-24h	—	Anaerobic bacterial infection (passerines)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416 doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
PO (drinking water)	100–200 mg/L drinking water	continuous in water; no interval printed	No duration printed on this row.	Anaerobic bacterial infection	Moderate

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.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
50–75	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.197	50-75 mg/kg p.o., i.m. q12h
35–50	PO	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.1	35-50 mg/kg PO q12-24h 35-50 mg/pigeon PO q24h × 7- 14 days 50-75 mg/kg PO, Psi a IM q12h × 7-10 days
50–75	PO	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.1	35-50 mg/kg PO q12-24h 35-50 mg/pigeon PO q24h × 7- 14 days 50-75 mg/kg PO, Psi a IM q12h × 7-10 days
50	PO	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.1	50 mg/kg PO q24h 1⁄4-1⁄2 tsp/L drinking water × 10-14 days

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Lincomycin for Canaries?

Lincomycin dose ranges in canaries, with cited source references: PO 35–50 mg/kg q12-24h; PO (drinking water) 100–200 mg/L drinking water continuous in water; no interval printed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Lincomycin administered in Canaries?

Documented routes for Lincomycin in canaries: PO, PO (drinking water).

How long is Lincomycin given in Canaries?

Cited course lengths for Lincomycin in canaries include: No duration printed on this row.. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Lincomycin treat in Canaries?

Lincomycin is indicated in canaries for: Anaerobic bacterial infection (passerines), Anaerobic bacterial infection.

What are the side effects of Lincomycin in Canaries?

These are general warnings for Lincomycin across species; consult the canary dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). GI upset. Pseudomembranous colitis risk. Give on empty stomach.

Other Antibiotic drugs with canary dosing

Amikacin Amoxicillin Ampicillin Cephalothin Chloramphenicol Chlortetracycline Ciprofloxacin Clarithromycin Doxycycline Enrofloxacin Erythromycin Furazolidone

Lincomycin dosing in other species

African Grey Parrots Domestic Pigeons Lovebirds Zebra Finches Dogs Ferrets Sugar Gliders

See all species for Lincomycin See all drugs for Canaries

Why a species-specific page? Lincomycin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in canaries — 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.