Gah! I Think I Screwed Up - Need Help With Dosage

[MerlinsMum]

Sagan had a dental today. When I went to pick him up, I also took Merlin in for shots and his annual visit, so my head was really jumbled when the vet gave me antibiotics for Sagan. She gave me Clindamycin (150mg capsules) and I can't remember what she told me The label says "Give 2 capsules every 12 hours after food for the next 5 days."

 

Easy, right?

 

Wrong. I gave him one capsule instead of two after his meal 3hours ago... and only just realized that now What's confusing is that I think they made some kind of mistake - because if I was indeed supposed to give him 2 capsules, then why was I only given 10 capsules? That's only enough for 2.5 days so either the dosage is wrong or the amount I was given is wrong.

 

Sagan is currently 79lbs. Any vet techs here that might be able to help? I can call the vet tomorrow, but they only open after he will have had his breakfast. I don't want to give him the wrong dosage again. I certainly don't want to give him too much but I also don't want him to get an infection because I gavr him too little right off the bat

 

Bummer. I feel stupid

Edited October 6, 2011 by MerlinsMum

[Houndtime]

Idol just had surgery and her dose was 1 capsule twice a day. Therefore it is 2 capsules, 12 hours apart. You did it correctly.

[kudzu]

My guess is someone miscounted the pills or misread the dosage. I believe 300 mg given twice a day is the correct dosage. (And that would be a minimum dose.) You'll need to contact the vet tomorrow to get the remaining capsules but I would definitely give him two in the morning. Don't feel bad about getting the first dose wrong. Too much was going on at once. Clearly you caught it & would be fine if someone else had not made an error. These things happen, at least they do in my life with great frequency.

Edited October 6, 2011 by kudzu

[dmswartzfager]

According to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, the clindamycin dosage for dental infections is 5-11 mg/kg every 12 hours... and 5 mg/kg seems to be the baseline dose, regardless of the reason for prescribing it. Anyway, 5 mg/kg works out to be 180 mg, and the 11 mg/kg would be 395 mg... therefore I think the 300 mg dose is likely to be correct.

[MerlinsMum]

I'm so freaking confused!! I vuess I'll gove him two this morning. I hope this is right. He's already had diarrhea this morning and he only had one pill yesterday evening.

 

Aaaaargh! This kinds of mistakes really annoy me.

[Guest Swifthounds]

If it was for a dental, they don't always give the common 7 or 10 day protocol, especially if nothing is open and healing. I would just call the vet and ask.

[rascalsmom]

Rascal is on the same meds right now. Her dose is 150 mg, twice daily. She is about 52 pounds. She will be on this for a total of three weeks, since the vet thinks she may have an abscess.

 

Ruby was on the same thing, 150 mg. 2 times daily, as a pulse antibiotic (one week each month).

[DesiRayMom]

If the mouth is not in horrible shape, our vets give Clinamycin for only a few days; 300 mg every 12 hours is standard for larger dogs

[JJNg]

He's already had diarrhea this morning and he only had one pill yesterday evening.

I agree with what everyone has already posted about the clindamycin dosage. Just a quick comment on the diarrhea. I would guess that it's more likely due to the anesthesia yesterday, rather than the 1 pill of clindamycin he got last night.

[Guest Swifthounds]

IV fluids and meds can also be the cause of the diarrhea.

[GeorgeofNE]

Around here, they start the dog on antibiotics before they even DO the dental! Cats too!