Lincomycin for Dogs

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

Lincomycin is dosed at 11 mg/kg IM q12h (label alternative: 22 mg/kg IM q24h) in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), 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." — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Lincomycin is used in dogs for Gram-positive and anaerobic infections. Routes documented in dogs: IM, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Lincomycin in dogs, 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
IM	11 mg/kg	q12h (label alternative: 22 mg/kg IM q24h)	7-14 days	Gram-positive and anaerobic infections	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), 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." — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
PO	22 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Gram-positive and anaerobic infections

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
22	IM	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.247	22 mg/kg i.m. q24h or 11 mg/kg i.m. q12h or 11-22 mg/kg slow i.v. q12-24h.
11	IM	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.247	22 mg/kg i.m. q24h or 11 mg/kg i.m. q12h or 11-22 mg/kg slow i.v. q12-24h.
11–22	IV	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.247	22 mg/kg i.m. q24h or 11 mg/kg i.m. q12h or 11-22 mg/kg slow i.v. q12-24h.
22	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.247	22 mg/kg p.o. q12h or 15 mg/kg p.o. q8h. Liothyronine (T3, L-Tri-iodothyronine) POM

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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 dogs 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 Dogs?

Lincomycin dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 11 mg/kg q12h (label alternative: 22 mg/kg IM q24h); PO 22 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Lincomycin administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Lincomycin in dogs: IM, PO.

How long is Lincomycin given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Lincomycin in dogs include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Lincomycin treat in Dogs?

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

What are the side effects of Lincomycin in Dogs?

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

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 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.

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.