Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic, which means that it helps to remove an anaerobic bacterial infection by disrupting the synthesis of proteins that the bacteria need in order to continue to survive and grow. The clindamycin molecule does this by entering the bacteria cell and binding to the bacteria's RNA. RNA is the molecule that assembles proteins inside a cell. It does this by binding to a sequence of molecules called amino acids, which are then attached together to make a protein.
When a clindamycin molecule binds to a bacteria's RNA, that RNA molecule cannot bond to the proper sequence of amino acids, so it will not make the protein it was designed to for. Clindamycin side effects are similar to the side effects of other antibiotics, with a few specific distinguishing differences. It is a common drug that is most often used to relieve a cat or other animal of an anaerobic bacterial infection.
Side Effects
In some animals, clindamycin will cause diarrhea. If your cat is suffering from diarrhea as a result of clindamycin use, take a look at the its fecal matter to make sure it is not too watery and there is no blood mixed in it. If the cat's diarrhea is watery or has blood in it, stop administering clindamycin immediately. Besides diarrhea, the only other major negative side effect your cat could possibly experience due to clindamycin treatment is an autoimmune inflammation of the gallbladder, which is not a very serious condition except in extreme circumstances, when the gallbladder is so swollen that it cannot function or prevents organs around it from functioning. No further side effects of treatment with clindamycin in cats have been recorded.
Indications
Clindamycin works by disrupting the synthesis of certain bacterial proteins, which are only created by specific kinds of anaerobic bacteria. These kinds of bacteria most commonly infest wounds on the cat's skin, sores in the cat's mouth, or cavities in the cat's teeth, so clindamycin is usually used to treat infections in those areas. It is also applicable anywhere else in a cat's body that is being invaded by an anaerobic species of bacteria.
How Much Should My Cat Take?
Since some of the negative side effects of clindamycin are much more pronounced in higher doses, you should not give too much clindamycin to your cat, but if you don't apply enough of the medication, the disease will continue to persist. It is important to know the proper dose of this medication before you give it to your cat. If you are using Clindamycin Hydrochloride, the recommended daily dose is about eleven to twenty-two milligrams for every kilogram the cat weighs. More severe infections require larger doses of clindamycin.
Clindamycin is a prescription drug, so you need approval from your veterinarian before you can apply it to your cat. If you notice any unusual behaviors or biological phenomena on the part of your cat in connection with clindamycin, you should stop administering the medication and consult your veterinarian about alternative antibiotic treatments.