COMPARISON OF CARPROFEN AND FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE AS ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY IN BOVINE RESPIRATORY-DISEASE

In an open, controlled, multi-centre clinical field trial, seven 'natu rally occurring' outbreaks of acute febrile (rectal temperature greate r than or equal to 39.5 degrees C) respiratory disease in housed calve s were treated with a single antimicrobial agent, and either the non-s teroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen (n=95) or flunixin m eglumine (n=92) on an alternate basis. Carprofen was administered as a single subcutaneous injection at a mean dosage of 1.4 mg kg(-1) (rang e 1.2 to 1.9 mg kg(-1)) body weight on the first day and flunixin megl umine by intravenous injection at a mean dosage of 2.0 mg kg(-1) (rang e 1.2 to 2.6 mg kg(-1)) body weight on the first 3 consecutive days. A ll calves were examined clinically immediately prior to initial treatm ent and on three occasions up to 1 week after the end of treatment. Th ere were no statistically significant differences between NSAID groups in reduction of clinical parameters between examinations, or in overa ll efficacy. This trial demonstrated that a single dose of carprofen w as equally effective as three daily doses of flunixin meglumine as adj unctive therapy to antimicrobial treatment in acute respiratory diseas e in calves.