Clarithromycin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Clarithromycin during a consultation by Dr Noor in Perth. Clarithromycin for pets in Perth.”
Clarithromycin
(kla-rith-roe-mye-sin)
Description: Clarithromycin for pets
This medicine is an antibiotic in the macrolide family (a group of antibiotics).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Biaxin®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None.
- Human:
- Regular tablets and long-acting tablets in 250 mg and 500 mg strengths
- Powder that is mixed to make a liquid taken by mouth (oral suspension) in 125 mg/5 mL (25 mg/mL) and 250 mg/5 mL (50 mg/mL)
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists for this medicine, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you have more questions or need additional details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- You can give this antibiotic either with food or without food. If your animal throws up or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat instead. If the vomiting does not stop, contact your veterinarian.
- When given by mouth, clarithromycin can lead to belly pain and intestinal discomfort, including cramping.
- While taking clarithromycin, cats may develop red skin, most often noticed on the ears.
- Do not give this medicine to rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, or to adult horses or ponies.
- This medicine can interact with many other drugs. Make sure your veterinarian and pharmacist know about every other medicine your animal is taking.
How is this medication useful?
For dogs and cats, clarithromycin is used for stomach ulcers linked to Helicobacter bacteria, and for infections such as leprosy and tuberculosis. It is also used to treat pneumonia in foals. The FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) has approved this medicine for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In some situations, the FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe medicines containing this drug for other species or for different health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
©2025 Educational Concepts, LLC, a division of Instinct 34
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may react with this one. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and the timing of each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment for the same illness or problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had medicine-related problems before, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours, but you may not be able to see any obvious change right away. Your animal should start to seem better within 1 to 2 days. The medicine does not last long in the body, meaning it stops working within 24 hours, although the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in:
If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, tylosin or azithromycin).
- Rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, or adult horses or ponies.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- Foals in hot weather, because it can reduce sweating and can lead to a dangerous rise in body temperature.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
You do not need to be highly worried if you notice these signs unless they are severe, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Diarrhea and belly cramping.
- Red skin (especially on the ears) in cats.
- Fainting/collapse; unusually low energy.
- Diarrhea with blood.
- Not wanting to eat, or a yellow color developing in the skin, gums, or the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
In most overdose cases, clarithromycin is fairly safe. If you see an overdose happen or think one may have happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for advice.
How should this medication be given?
To get the best results, give this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine may be given with food or without food. If your animal vomits or seems sick after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting keeps happening, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or dosing syringes. Shake the liquid well each time before you give it.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to keep taking it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
©2025 Educational Concepts, LLC, a division of Instinct 35
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time and then continue the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved pill organizer, at room temperature and away from light.
- If you have a liquid form, store it at room temperature and do NOT put it in the refrigerator.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a custom-made version (a compounded form) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option:
- Combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to people who might search trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the regular garbage.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have any other questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
©2025 Educational Concepts, LLC, a division of Instinct 36
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”