Last updated Apr 5, 2026
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Clindamycin is an antibiotic that may be used in cats, especially in the cases of wounds, abscesses, or dental-associated infections like tooth root abscesses.
In this article, you’ll learn how clindamycin works, types of infections it is most often used for, potential side effects to monitor for, and some frequently asked questions.
Clindamycin For Cats Overview
About Clindamycin for Cats
Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that has a fairly broad spectrum against certain types of bacteria. The brand name Antirobe Aquadrops manufactured by Zoetis is FDA-approved for use in cats for infections associated with wounds, abscesses, or dental disease.
While the capsule form of clindamycin is not FDA approved for cats, the capsules may be used in an off-label manner as well, especially the 25mg and 75mg capsules.
What Does Clindamycin Do for Cats?
As a lincosamide antibiotic, clindamycin may be either bactericidal or bacteriostatic, depending on the dosage and concentration of the drug at the intended site, and how susceptible the target bacteria are to it.
Although termed “bacteriostatic”, implying it only inhibits growth of bacteria, an antimicrobial acting as a bacteriostatic agent does actively kill bacteria. It simply requires a higher concentration than an antibiotic labeled as “bactericidal”.
Thus, for bacteria that are equally susceptible, clindamycin is not necessarily a “weaker” or “less effective” antibiotic when used as a bacteriostatic agent vs. bactericidal agent.
Clindamycin acts on bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis of their cell wall.
Clindamycin has a broad range of effect against certain types of bacteria. This includes aerobic (oxygen dependent) round-shaped bacteria called cocci like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.
Clindamycin also has a good effect against non-oxygen dependent bacteria, called anaerobes, which include Clostridium perfringens and Bacteroides fragilis.
All four of these bacterial strains may be found in dental infections in cats. Staph and Strep species of bacteria may also be found complicating surface wounds, while Clostridium and Bacteroides are found more in abscesses, such as those caused by the bite of another cat.
There is a whole host of bacteria called gram-negative bacteria, which clindamycin is not effective against. A second antibiotic would need to be used to help cover for these bacteria if appropriate.
Much of the time, veterinarians will determine the appropriate antibiotic to use based on the likelihood of susceptible bacteria in the area affected. However, there may be times when a culture and sensitivity is required to determine exactly what strains of bacteria are present and what type of antibiotic is most effective against them.
Although not labeled for it, clindamycin also has an effect against the protozoal organism Toxoplasma gondii, that causes toxoplasmosis. For those not familiar, this is the organism some cats may carry or shed in their stool, prompting human physicians to carefully council pregnant mothers to avoid contact with the litterbox.
When used to treat for toxoplasmosis, clindamycin may need to be used at higher doses. While it may suppress some infections, it may not completely clear the organism in all cases.
This is also why, if a pregnant person is in the home and toxoplasmosis is a concern, that testing a cat in the home for exposure and presence of toxoplasmosis first with blood testing may be preferred to generalized use of clindamycin in an otherwise healthy cat.
Side Effects of Clindamycin for Cats
Apart from some cases, it appears that most cats tolerate clindamycin very well and show very limited signs of toxicity. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
The most commonly reported side effects in cats include signs of gastrointestinal upset, like vomiting and soft stool.
Giving any antibiotic with food may help to offset some of these types of side effects. In studies involving cats specifically, use of pre and probiotics also helped to reduce these types of side effects.
There have also been reports in cats getting the capsule form of clindamycin developing signs of esophageal inflammation and something called an esophageal stricture.
A stricture in the esophagus is a narrowing of the tissue that makes it harder for ingested items to pass through. An esophageal stricture can occur secondary to irritation or ulceration of the tissues after scar tissue forms when those lesions heal.
Typically veterinarians don’t recommend “dry-pilling” cats, especially with certain medications including doxycycline and clindamcyin. These are best given in a treat designed to wrap around medication, like a Pill Pocket.
If dry-pilling must be used, it is often recommended to follow the medication with about 1ml of water dosed by a syringe to ensure the tablet or capsule doesn’t get stuck on the esophagus wall.
Using the liquid form of clindamycin (brands include Antirobe, ClinDrops, Clindacure, and others) will not contribute to stricture formation and can be a safer alternative form to use in this regard, as long as your kitty will tolerate a liquid medication.
The downside is that the common concentration of 25 milligrams per milliliter will call for at least 2 or more milliliters per dose for a 10-15 lb cat.
With some forms of clindamycin, cats may develop hypersalivation (drooling) or lip-smacking after dosing due to bitter taste.
Fortunately, it appears that most cats otherwise tolerate clindamycin very well. According to the manufacturer of Antirobe, cats dosed at 10x the dose for 15 days showed very limited signs of toxicity and this was also found for cats dosed at up to 5x the dose for 42 days.
If your kitty has any signs of kidney or liver impairment, clindamycin should be used cautiously. In severe cases, the dose may even need to be reduced.
If you ever have concerns about side effects or toxicity in your cat when using clindamycin, make sure to contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435), or Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) for further advice.
Clindamycin for Cats Dosage
Whatever the case, it is extremely important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions completely and to always finish out the full course of an antibiotic. Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The FDA-approved dosage for cats using Antirobe oral drops is 11-33 milligrams per kilogram every 24 hours, given by mouth. The maximum labeled treatment period is 14 days.
There are some cases where a veterinarian may choose a different, off-label protocol based on what is being treated. For example, it is common to treat for toxoplasmosis for 30 days.
How To Give a Cat Clindamycin
As with any antibiotic, use of clindamycin should only be under the care of a licensed veterinarian.
It is extremely important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions completely and to always finish out the full course of an antibiotic, even if your kitty appears to be doing or feeling better.
Stopping an antibiotic too early may increase the risk that bacteria may rebound and develop resistance to that antibiotic, making it ineffective.
Conclusion
Clindamycin is a very useful antibiotic for cats, especially in the case of wounds, abscesses, or dental infections. Cats also tolerate it very well, though some may develop a mild gastrointestinal upset.
However, like all antibiotics, clindamycin cannot be used against all bacteria, and its indication for use needs to be restricted to a veterinarian’s discretion.
Drug Dosing Disclaimer: We are only able to provide doses for medications that are FDA approved for use in cats and only as the label guidelines dictate. For medications that are used off-label we can only provide guidelines and safety information for use. Safe and appropriate dosing for off-label medications can only be determined by a primary care veterinarian.
We encourage you to work with your veterinarian to determine if a particular medication is appropriate for your cat. Changing or adjusting a dose for your cat on your own without consulting with a veterinarian can carry risk. We do not encourage use of medications prescribed for human use in pets without first consulting with a primary care veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clindamycin for Cats Used to Treat?
Primarily, clindamycin is most often used to treat wounds, abscesses like from cat bite wounds, and dental infections. It may also be used in some cases to treat some bacterial infections on the surface of the skin as well.
While not labeled for it, clindamycin also has effect against the protzoal organism Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis can be transmissible to people, making it a zoonotic disease, and is the main reason human physicians caution pregnant women against coming in contact with a litter box.
While many cats with toxoplasmosis may only carry the organism and show no signs of disease, very young cats or those with a compromised immune system may develop signs of neurologic or ocular (eye) disease.
How Much Clindamycin Do You Give a Cat?
The labeled dose of Antirobe is 11-33 milligrams per kilogram every 24 hours. However, there may be some variations in dosing protocol depending on the disease being treated, so always make sure to closely follow a veterinarian’s guidelines and instructions.
Is Clindamycin Bad for Cats?
Clindamycin is not bad for cats at all, in fact cats tend to tolerate it very well. However, any antibiotic may cause signs of digestive upset.
Any antibiotic or other medication could be considered bad for a kitty if it is being used inappropriately or at an inappropriate dose. That’s why it’s very important to only give your cat clindamycin based on a veterinarian’s instructions.
Can You Give Your Cat Clindamycin?
While people may be prescribed clindamycin (typically capsules) themselves, it is important to never give your cat a medication prescribed for yourself. First, the dose prescribed for a person is going to be much higher than a dose prescribed for a cat and even one capsule prescribed for a person is likely to be too high a dose for a typical cat.
Second, the capsule form of clindamycin is accompanied by an increased risk of esophageal irritation and stricture (scarred narrowing of the esophagus) formation. A liquid form of clindamycin is available for cats through a veterinarian. If a pill or capsule is needed, your veterinarian can provide the best information on how to most safely administer this form to your cat.
Great information—relieved my anxiety. My kitty, per vet’s instructions, on 75mg twice daily for dental disease. She has oral Squamous of jaw bone so no dental surgery. I’ve been reading what I can find about clindamycin but this article explained everything. The drug has helped her infection and bad breath. Thank you so much!
Happy to hear that this article relieved your anxiety, Cindy. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Good information, but how do I give it to my cat without holding her down and squirting the liquid down her throat?
Good question, Lydia! You could try mixing it with a small amount of wet food (about a tablespoon). Try something special your cat will be eager to eat and reserve it only for administering the Clindamycin so she doesn’t lose interest.
Hi Lydia, the commercial clindamycin oral solution can be a pain. Another option is to look into compounding through a compounding pharmacy, especially if your cat is due to be on clindamycin for a few weeks. Compounding options can include a higher concentration so that you’re giving a smaller volume each time, more tasty flavoring added to the liquid, or having dose-appropriate tablets or chews made.
My cat has severe kidney disease and has some abscess on gums of back teeth. Trying to keep her comfortable I asked for something for the abscess. They gave me liquid clindamycin 2 MG twice daily.. Read that it should be used cautiously in cats with kidney disease. Hope this isn’t worsening her condition.
My cat has severe kidney disease and has abscess on back gums.. trying to keep her comfortable I asked our vet for the abscess. They gave her clindamycin 2 MG twice a day. I read it should be used cautiously in cats with kidney disease. Hope this isn’t worsening her condition.
Hi Pat, lincosamide antibiotics should be used cautiously in pets with severe kidney disease (and liver disease) but this doesn’t mean they’re completely contraindicated. Clindamycin is excreted partially through the urine and that is the reason why it should be used cautiously if the kidneys aren’t working well. My understanding at least isn’t so much that it is toxic to the kidneys as it just will not be cleared from the body as efficiently. Unfortunately in pets with severe kidney or liver disease, drug options become more difficult as both of these organs are responsible for clearing drugs from the body. Clindamycin is usually a great antibiotic choice for dental disease but depending on how advanced your kitty’s kidney disease is, it’s important to discuss frequent monitoring of kidney values, especially after starting any new medications.
Hello Doctor,
Please, HELP ME !!!! My cat, Sophie, desparately needs INJECTABLE Clindomycin. I am doing this on my own but my veterinarian cannot locate the injectable anywhere. Why ??? What I am confused about is the fact that it is almost impossible to get any injectable Clindomycin. The tablets and pills are thrown up immediately. As for the liquid with the baby dropper, she vomits that up as soon as I give it to her. If you have this, I will call my vet ASAP and she could call it in. This way I can take Sophie to her pet hospital and get her shots because we are just about one mile apart. Hoping you can help and I thank you kindly.
Hi Debbie,
I’m sorry to hear you and your kitty are having a difficult time.
In my experience, injectable clindamycin is not a common item that most veterinary general practices carry. It is rarely needed and requires a slow intravenous infusion that can only be done under veterinary personnel care. There may be some referral/specialty hospitals, universities, etc. that keep it in stock. Hopefully, there are some in your area you could try to touch base with.
The only place many injectable antibiotics can be ordered from is a medical supply company with which you have to have an established account. I couldn’t say for sure, but if your veterinarian’s medical supply company does not have it in stock, there may be a shortage or backorder which unfortunately happens a lot now with a variety of medical supplies.
I’m not clear why your cat requires injectable clindamycin only, as there are often other alternative antibiotics for most conditions. If toxoplasmosis is suspected, it’s important to be certain of the diagnosis. There are some alternative treatment choices besides clindamycin, which you and your veterinarian could consider.
If it is simply that your kitty’s stomach cannot hold it down, antiemetics like Cerenia can sometimes be used in advance of administration to keep it from coming back up.
Thanking you with all my heart for getting back to me. Sophie’s diagnosis is Toxoplasmosis and her count was something like….. 13,000.00. I am sick to my stomach about this. I live in a condo and have been here 29 years and have NEVER seen a mouse. Sophie is 13 years old but until this, which came on her all of a sudden when her back legs would not work, she has really never been sick. She leads a damn good life with all my other pets do and have done…. just lazy bums who run this house. I just want to get rid of that bacteria in her little body.
I noticed Clinda drops have a shelf life of 2 weeks What about an unopened bottle.
Hi Bill,
I do know the shelf life of an unopened, sealed bottle is considerably longer just based on the presence of stock in my own clinic, though I don’t know specifically off-hand. The easiest answer is that the expiration date on the packaging would specifically provide that information. Practically, this can always depend on when the stock is delivered too.
I am actually looking for information on clindamycin phosphate LOTION and I can’t seem to find anything online about that. My cat has an infection on her neck area, so I put some lotion on the area. I didn’t think she could like it off in that area, but she seemed to be able to. Today she was throwing up and pooped on the floor. I know I found info online at one point about how it wouldn’t hurt them appreciably, but I can’t find it tonight. Can you enlighten me? I am really worried….
Hi there! I apologize for the late reply. I would recommend talking with your veterinarian about what happened, just to make sure you get a professional’s assessment. You can also contact the A.S.P.C.A.’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888.426.4435.
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for your question.
Clindamycin topical products are used uncommonly in pets, at least in my experience, but they can be used. Some veterinary dermatologists have advised using topical clindamycin only if other topical products we use more often don’t work well.
However, there should not be any really significant safety concerns with topical clindamycin any more than there would be with oral clindamycin.
But it’s important to realize that any antibiotic can cause digestive upset. Also for cats, if they lick a topical product off their skin, they can have an adverse taste response. Many topical lotions aren’t designed to taste very good and they don’t. And yet, cats can’t help but groom themselves of anything on their fur.
This latter may be more of what you saw, but if any signs of digestive upset or poor appetite linger through your cat’s next mealtime, I would consider a veterinary exam.
I have a 13 year old female cat who had an unknown infection that was only evident once an abscess appeared on her hind leg. We got her to the vet who put a drain in the abscess and prescribed antibiotics, but she only seemed to get worse and worse. The wound began to turn black (necrotic) and we went back and had a culture taken from the infection area and based on those test results the medicine was changed to clindamycin for the particular bacteria that was identified, (but that took ANOTHER week to receive the results for) In the meantime she stopped eating and dropped a significant amount of weight. My question is, she was on another medication for nearly two weeks as this infection grew worse and worse. She now has a hole in the side of her leg the size of a quarter and has not eaten on her own in over 10 days. We have been syringe feeding baby food (chicken) with vita-cal mixed to just get something in her body and she’s been keeping it down, but she dry heaves and gags at even the smell of any other food. Any idea when the clindamycin should start to affect her ability to eat or show some kind of positive results on the infection once it’s started being administered or has it been too long for her to bounce back from this?
I’m sorry to hear this is going on with your kitty. I think that the way this was approached was fairly conventional. In a majority of cases a bite wound abscess will heal with the aid of most broad-spectrum antibiotics. Placing a drain is also an appropriate step depending on how big of an abscess is present.
It sounds like unfortunately, one or more bacteria involved in this wound were resistant to other broad-spectrum antibiotics. You can’t predict initially whether this will be the case or not. Bacterial cultures do take a couple of days to determine initial growth and another couple of days to determine antibiotic sensitivity and there’s not much you can do about the timing. Cultures are sometimes collected immediately with some wounds but they are an added expense. Often the course of action pursued is empirical antibiotic therapy and a culture will be pursued if the response is not as expected and a wound does not heal within 10-14 days..
The necrosis of the wound definitely complicates things. The infection may be controlled with the clindamycin, but it sounds like you have significant tissue damage that needs to heal and this process can take several weeks. Referral to a surgical specialist may provide some additional options to help with healing like a tissue graft.
It may also be appropriate to consider biopsy of the wound tissue to ensure this wound did not develop from a cancerous cause. If verified to not be a cancerous cause, cold therapy laser has also demonstrated benefit in accelerating wound healing.
My cat has advanced dental disease/infection. I cannot afford to get the surgery or have him put to sleep and it is killing me mentally A friend gave me a human prescription of clindamycin 300 mg. Wondering if I can split the capsules into the right amount for his body weight, add to water or chicken broth and give it to him in an oral syringe. If someone who knows can help ASAP, would appreciate it. Thanks, Josh
Hi Monique, I can certainly sympathize with your situation. As a doctor, I can’t give you specific advice because what you’re talking about doing is essentially compounding a medication at home and our medical license doesn’t cover that. But for an average 10lb cat, the labeled dosage range for clindamycin for dental infections is about 50-150mg every 24 hours.
my cat was healthy and happy untilhe got a rabe shot and perscribed clindamycne, he died 10 days later, screaming i in pain and unable to breath, his lungs filled with fluid and became incapassitated. after the second dose of clinda. 8 hrs he suffered befor dying on my way back to the vet .
Hi Natalie, I’m so sorry to hear about your kitty. However, I don’t feel clindamycin would have directly caused the effects you’re describing. If your cat was prescribed clindamycin, there must have been some illness your veterinarian was concerned about they were trying to treat. It very likely progressed despite attempts at therapy. It continues to baffle me how they manage, but I have seen many cats cope with medical conditions and appear very normal on the outside for some time, until they suddenly go into a crisis. This is especially true with health conditions causing fluid build up in or around the lungs. Even if they’ve been building up for days or weeks unseen, such conditions can appear to develop very suddenly and can be very traumatic to experience when they reach a critical stage. I’m sorry for your loss.
My cat had all of his teeth extracted and was given the antibiotic to avoid infection. I’m able to give him the medication at least once a day. He gets wise to me after the first time and doesn’t usually let me go in for another one. He won’t eat wet food so I can’t put it in anything. Before his surgery I told them how terrible he is with meds and they gave him and injection but told me to do my best to get as much into him as I can. I’m wondering if it would be okay to give him a larger once a day dose or if I’d be doing nothing by only giving it once a day.
Hi Jamie,
This is a good question. Clindamycin is FDA labeled to only be given once a day in cats. Clindamycin does tend to have a longer elimination half-life when higher doses are given (meaning the with higher doses, the medication will last longer). This is not the case with all antibiotics. I can’t advise on specific dosing for your cat, but if you’re able to convert your cat’s weight to kilograms (weight in lb divided by 2.2 if you know weight in lb), you can divide the milligram dose you’re giving of clindamycin by your cat’s weight to find out the mg/kg dose. The FDA approved mg/kg dose is included in the article, so you could see where the dosing sits. As long as you’re at 11mg/kg or higher, this should be sufficient for once a day dosing.
(Clindamycin)This medication can cause a lot of lethargy in a cat?
Hi Janett,
While I can’t be sure of what you’re calling “a lot” of lethargy, but in general I would say no. I have encountered pet owners who feel that their pet may be a little sluggish while on an antibiotic (though the reason is not really clear). If you’re seeing reduced appetite or any other gastrointestinal signs, we can see that with any antibiotic and may see lethargy related to that. I don’t know why your kitty is on clindamycin, but there’s also the thought process of what condition is being treated in my cat and is there any concern that condition is worsening despite being on a particular medication. I would certainly get in touch with your veterinarian’s office if you’re concerned your cat’s condition may be worsening despite therapy.
I have a male cat that’s about 5 years old that I took to the vet yesterday 8/23/2025 because it seems like he’s been drooling from the mouth most of the time. I initially thought it was just allergies. But when I took him into the veterinarian, they said he had some kind of bacterial infection in either his teeth or gums, and some of his teeth were loose. I asked them why his brother and two sister cats (both the same age as him) and his mother have no mouth, gum, or dental problems whatsoever? They didn’t have any answers for that question. They prescribed Clindamycin hydrochloride oral drops 1 ml orally TWICE a day. I thought I saw somewhere, either on this site or somewhere else it was only supposed to be given to a cat once a day.
They also said some of his teeth will have to be extracted, with the date for the extraction surgery scheduled for October 30th, 2025.
I’m just wondering if I should get a 2nd opinion from another veterinarian? Since I hate to have any teeth extracted from a cat that is only 5 years old. And see if there is anything that can be done to save the teeth.
The list of things they have shown for the scheduled October surgery are:
Abaxis Comp Diagnostic profile geriatric
High Risk Anesthesia-PropoFlo
Dental Cleaning
IV Catheter & Placement
Tooth Extractions
Clindadrops-20ml
Fluids-Intravenous-:LRS
Pain Meds-Canine Rimadyl Pain Pack
Fluoride Treatment.
Thankyou for anyone who can give me advice on seeing if I should check with another Veterinarian.
I had another female cat that was under this vets care about 5 years ago for thyroid problems and taking Felimazole tablets. And wasn’t at all impressed with this vets ability to keep that cat’s thyroid levels properly controlled, and that cat ended up dying a painful death at home several years ago. So if another vet can do a better job than this current vet- I’m all for it.
Hi Randy,
I guess what troubles me a little bit is that you were not able to actually see this condition with your cat’s mouth yourself. It at least sounds like you may not have been present for the exam? It sounds like this may be contributing to trust issues with your vet’s observations and/or diagnosis.
What I think your veterinarian is describing is not actually uncommon, even for a 5 year old cat. While I can’t say for sure, it sounds like your cat may have multiple resorptive lesions. You can see an article about them here. All three of my own cats were severely affected by tooth resorption, causing a lot of oral discomfort, requiring a majority of their teeth to be extracted between the ages of 4-6 years.
Cats with multiple teeth going through resorption can certainly have drooling and secondary infection. Cats may also have severe inflammation in their mouth, called stomatitis.
Certain underlying viruses, like FIV and FeLV, can be responsible and we usually test cats for them to make sure they are not a concurrent finding. My own cats did not have either but may have had a genetic predisposition since they were all related.
Although your cat’s other family members have not had a similar issue, there is no rule in nature that governs such things. Nature does kind of whatever it wants and you can always have one cat affected by a genetic predisposition not seen in other family members. I’m not surprised your vet could not provide an adequate answer to why just this one cat is affected. Unless a concurrent viral infection is found, I doubt any clear explanation would be possible.
For Clindamycin, it can be given either every 12 or 24 hours depending on the dosage and a doctor’s experience and discretion. It is typically a good choice for dental infections.
I know it may sound extreme to need to extract a younger cat’s teeth. However, if they are going through tooth resorption, there is no way to reverse the process or save them. Pets (especially cats) are not affected commonly by true cavities like people, which can be drilled and filled, preserving the tooth. Resorption is a far different process where the immune system attacks the tooth. This process will continue painfully until the tooth disappears. Either way, a cat will no longer have the affected teeth. Our goal is to shorten the time of pain. In some cases, a cat may be so painful from the resorbing teeth that even after essentially having oral surgery, they will be in less pain almost immediately after.
Most items in the treatment plan appear fairly standard. Carprofen is not a common choice in cats, at least not in the US, but a single injectable dose around the time of a procedure has shown to be well tolerated. It’s usually standard to send home some additional pain medication, not just an anti-inflammatory, but every hospital’s supply is different.
It sounds like you lack some confidence in this particular vet practice. Hyperthyroidism can sometimes be tricky to manage, but so can a lot of medical cases. We don’t have control over the outcomes, we can only influence them as best as possible.
However, I feel like there may be some issues with communication or having things well explained. I always think any client should have confidence in a doctor’s diagnosis for their pet, especially before going into an anesthetic procedure.
Personally, I never feel slighted if a client looks for a second opinion, especially if I’ve provided a difficult diagnosis or a lot of information that may be hard to process. Sometimes hearing another say it is helpful. I also do feel like 2 months is a long time to wait if your cat has a painful mouth, so perhaps you could get in somewhere sooner. Perhaps another vet would be able to better explain the findings to your satisfaction and/or show you directly the condition your cat’s mouth is in.
I was in the examining room and helping hold onto my cat to keep him calm while they examined his mouth. But I couldn’t really see what they were talking about concerning the problem with his mouth and teeth. They just mentioned that some of the teeth were loose, and certain teeth would have to be removed; but said they would like to try and save some particular teeth (I can’t remember which which ones. I will check the article you have listed in your response though, and will probably get a second opinion from another veterinarian here in my area in the thumb region of Michigan. This is a rural area of Michigan and the veterinarian is from a small town. So I may check with one from a larger city area that may have better training and experience than the first one I went to.
My cat is on 150mg Clindamycin for a gum infection, he is supposed to take it for 10 days, he’s taken it for four days now. BUT, the first night he threw up maybe 30-45mins later. The second night the medicine stayed down and was fine. The third night, he threw up 30-45min later. And the fourth night just now, it was so hard giving him the capsule and he keeping spitting it out. It basically started to turn to mush with the powder coming out, so i’m not exactly sure how much he got… i had to throw half of it away because the capsule was ruined by then. I didn’t want to try giving him another pill because i don’t know how much he got into his system (though it likely wasn’t a lot at all). The two days he threw up, i didn’t see the pill in the throw up but still not sure how much of the active ingredient could have been in the throw up. The throw up was blue (the color dye on the capsule) so the throw up definitely looked like the medicine coating. Not sure what to do about him needing more doses because of these turning whacky.
Hi MacKenzie,
While clindamycin is an appropriate antibiotic to use for dental disease, I will admit I hardly use it in cats because the capsules are not easy to administer to them. The liquid clindamycin is another choice, but sometimes the fluid volume can also be an issue. Digestive upset can occur as the result of any antibiotic and is the most common thing reported. However, a pet who cannot tolerate one type of antibiotic may still tolerate a different one better. I would feel that you’ve seen enough digestive upset with the clindamycin in only a couple days that you should get in touch with your vet to see if there is another antibiotic choice that may be appropriate or another strategy for helping him take it (such as giving it together with a full meal or hidden in a treat if you have not tried that).
Hello Chris! Thank you so much for everything you do – for cats and us, their servants 😁.
I have a serious question about Clindamycine which no ine can answer in my area (can’t find inline either): I have to inject it, SQ or IM as pills or liquid is absolutely impossible (Im a very experiencedy in that – a few decades, but even this wont help this time for this particular cat).
My question is : can I inject Dalacin C Phosphate (phizer🙄) ? The reason for asking: there is benzyl alcohol in it, so I’m not sure. Maybe, if such injection is at all possible, its safer to add some Saline solution?
The reason for treatment: discharge frim cats nose, blood or something yellow. Reason — unknown, diagnostics – impossible (advanced CKD and 18 y.old or older).
I very much look forward to your reply as we’d better start asap…
Thanks a lot in advance!
Hi Alexandra,
I’ll provide you with what information I think I can, though it may be limited. I have little experience with clindamycin in its injectable form, as it is usually reserved for sepsis or treating ill cats with toxoplasmosis. I might have been involved using it for some very ill cats during my internship many years ago but beyond that, it’s very uncommon to use in general practice. That may be why you’ve had a hard time finding info about using it.
When given intravenously, it must be given very slowly and/or diluted out. I would never suggest this route unless in a hospital setting. The intramuscular route is discouraged because at least in dogs, this route is painful. Giving it under the skin however, is not (or at least considerably less irritating). So that would be the route of choice in a cat at home.
You would be taking (potentially considerable) risk with using clindamycin if your cat has advanced kidney disease. You also have to be careful injecting benzyl alcohol (preservative in the injectible clindamycin) with kidney disease as well. You would have to have a discussion with your vet to decide if the risk is worth potential benefits. At 18yo, it is possible what you’re seeing is not an infection but could be related to a nasal tumor (I sadly have personal experience in two of my cats besides other patients). This would especially be a concern if you’re seeing the discharge from only one nostril. If that were the case, clindamycin would be unlikely to do anything but could worsen renal disease if it is at a later stage.
I realize it’s hard to sit by without doing something and your kitty makes options unfortunately limited. If you have not had your cat examined since these signs started, even a visual exam (if your cat is difficult to examine) with your vet may be helpful to get a take on whether an infection is more likely vs. another cause.