Clinical efficacy of diclofenac sodium and flunixin meglumine as adjuncts to
antibacterial treatment of respiratory disease of calves.
Author(s): Guzel M, Karakurum MC, Durgut R, Mamak N.
Affiliation(s): Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of
Mustafa Kemal, 31040, Hatay, Turkey. muratguzel05@gmail.com
Publication date & source: 2010, Aust Vet J. , 88(6):236-9
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs,
diclofenac sodium and flunixin meglumine as adjuncts to the antibiotic treatment
of bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
PROCEDURE: We randomly allocated 80 Holstein calves with BRD to three groups. All
the calves received a dose of 2.5 mg/kg tulathromycin by single subcutaneous
injection and two of the groups received, in addition, either 2.5 mg/kg
diclofenac sodium as a single intramuscular injection (diclofenac group, n = 30)
or 2.2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine as an intravenous injection on the first three
consecutive days after tulathromycin administration (flunixin group, n = 30). All
calves were given a clinical score prior to initial treatment (day 0) and after
treatment (days 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14) by observing appetite, demeanour, rectal
temperature, the rate and type of respiration, presence or absence of coughing,
and nasal discharge.
RESULTS: During the first 48 h, improvement of adverse signs of respiratory
disease, such as pyrexia and elevated respiratory rate, and of a high clinical
index score was significant in the two adjunct groups compared with the calves
receiving antibiotic alone. The reduction in pyrexia was greatest in the
diclofenac group. There were no statically significant differences between
treatment groups with regard to eventual perceived recovery from respiratory
disease in 14 days.
CONCLUSION: In this trial, a single intramuscular dose of diclofenac sodium was
equally effective as three intravenous injections of flunixin meglumine given on
consecutive days as adjunctive therapy for BRD.
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