A FIELD-EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF TOLFENAMIC ACID AND OXYTETRACYCLINE IN THE TREATMENT OF BOVINE RESPIRATORY-DISEASE

In a blinded multicentre trial 313 cattle showing clinical signs of re spiratory disease were allocated randomly into three groups, treated i ntramuscularly with a long-acting oxytetracycline formulation at a dos e rate of 20 mg/kg bodyweight in combination with vehicle alone (place bo) or with tolfenamic acid at 2 mg/kg bodyweight once or on two occas ions with a 48-h interdosing interval. The clinical status of the anim als was monitored for 5 days using a specific scoring system and weigh t gain was calculated between day 0 and day 21. Relapses were monitore d from day 5 until day 21. When oxytetracycline was combined with two injections of tolfenamic acid, there was a significant (P < 0.04) impr ovement in the clinical resolution. This regimen also produced non-sig nificant improvements in cure rate, reduced frequency of relapses and improved weight gain.