A field evaluation of the efficacy of tolfenamic acid and oxytetracycline in the treatment of bovine respiratory disease

Abstract

Deleforge, J., Thomas, E., Davot, J.L., Boisrame, B. A field evaluation of the efficacy of tolfenamic acid and oxytetracycline in the treatment of bovine respiratory disease. J. vet. Pharmacol Therap. 17,43–47. In ablinded multicentre trial 313 cattle showing clinical signs of respiratory disease were allocated randomly into three groups, treated intramuscularly with a long‐acting oxytetracycline formulation at a dose rate of 20 mg/kg bodyweight in combination with vehicle alone (placebo) or with tolfenamic acid at 2mg/kg, bodyweight once or on two occasions with a 48‐h interdosing interval. The clinical status of the animals was monitored for 5 days using a specific scoring system and weight gain was calculated between day 0 and day 21. Relapses were monitored from day 5 until day 21. When oxytetracycline was combined with two injections of tolfenamic acid, there was a significant (P < 0.04) improvement in the clinical resolution. This regimen also produced non‐significant improvements in cure rate, reduced frequency of relapses and improved weight gain.