Clindamycin for Feline Disease
Pet owners can administer the antibiotic clindamycin to their cats in liquid form to treat a range of bacterial infections. The dosing of clindamycin depends on the severity of the infection and the cat's body weight. Gastrointestinal side effects can occur, but owners also need to watch their cats for signs of an allergic reaction to clindamycin.
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Indications
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In cats, clindamycin has U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved indications for treating skin and dental infections. The medication can also prevent and treat infections of deep wounds. The bacteria susceptible to clindamycin are Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens and Bacteroides fragilis.
Dosing
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Pet owners will need to speak with their cat's veterinarian about how to measure and administer clindamycin doses. The product information for the medication notes that an effective dose can range from 5 mg per pound to 15 mg per pound. Generally, cats should receive only one dose of clindamycin every 24 hours and should receive the medication for no longer than 14 days at a time.
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Side Effects
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Administering clindamycin to a cat can cause the animal to vomit or experience diarrhea. Product information for veterinary clindamycin characterizes these side effects as "occasional." Also, cats treated with clindamycin for long periods can develop secondary, hard-to-treat yeast and lower urinary tract infections.
Warnings and Contraindications
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Some cats have an allergy to clindamycin. This can manifest as a rash that causes compulsive itching and breathing problems, and a clindamycin allergy can sometimes prove fatal. Also, the gastrointestinal side effects of clindamycin make the medication a poor choice for treating chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, rabbits and ruminants such as goats and cows. People should not use veterinary formulations of clindamycin.
Available Products
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Several companies produce liquid clindamycin products specially formulated for administering to cats. Pfizer makes Antirobe Aquadrops and Virbac AH makes Clinsol. Generic liquid clindamycin products for cats are available from the companies First Priority and Teva Animal Health.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
