Immunoboost - anyone ever used this?

[milkmaid]

IMMUNOBOOST®
Bioniche Animal Health
Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction Immunostimulant
U.S. Vet. Lic. No.: 289
Contents: This product contains the antigen listed above.

Contains gentamicin as a preservative.

Indications: For use in calves, 1 to 5 days of age, as a one-time immunotherapeutic treatment for reduction of mortality and clinical signs associated with calf scours caused by E. coli (K99).
Dosage and Administration: Aseptically administer 1 mL intravenously.
Precaution(s): Store at 2-7°C (35-45°F). Use entire contents when first opened.
Caution(s): In case of anaphylaxis, administer epinephrine.
For use by or under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.
Warning(s): Do not inoculate within 21 days of slaughter.
U.S. Patent No. 4,744,984
Presentation: 5 dose (5 mL) and 20 dose (20 mL) multi-vials.
NAC No.: 11070033

 

[Vicky the vet]

Not under that name, but yes I have. There is a product called equistim, which can shorten viral infections, and a second product I can't remember the name of which I've injected into a couple of bovine eye cancers and it's worked.....

 

[CKC1586]

Yes, we used it on all of the first calf heifers after experiencing a problem (still no final decision as to what the cause was) with the first 4 calves this spring.

 

[milkmaid]

CKC- I remember that incident. Do you feel it helped/reduced losses after you started using it? -- and did you use it on the heifers themselves, or on their calves???

Vicky- I know it's labeled for young calves, but could you use this on mature cows as well as calves? in concunction with antibiotic therapy for some other cause - footrot, lumpy jaw, mastitis, etc - ???

Just looking for ways to increase treatment success rates. :)

Thanks!

 

[mermill2]

Dear Milkmaid, You got my attention, must be some stuff. I
ve never used it. Sounds promising. I'll look it up more, and talk to the vets, and see what they know. Thanks for putting that on the board, I hope I never have to use it, but one never knows. Merry

 

[CKC1586]

It was used on the calves. Our vet said that there is differing opinions on the stuff within their practice but we were desperate and would have used fairy dust if we coulda found it. He believes that it does help when given within 24 hours of birth. After we lost the first three we used it on the rest of the calves this spring and we only lost one after that.

 

[milkmaid]

CKC- thanks for the information.

Merry- I hope I wouldn't ever HAVE to use it too, but I'm suspecting it might be VERY useful on a cow that needs extended antibiotic therapy due to a severe infection. For a mild infection it'd probably be an unneccessary expense, but a severe infection could likely benefit from it. Maybe certain cases of mastitis or perhaps severe uterine infections following calving... or severely scouring calves, ones with joint ill, etc, etc, etc. :idea:

I looked it up and it looks like it'll run about $3-4/mL in 5mL and 20mL bottles, which isn't THAT cheap, but looking at "the big picture", if it could improve treatment success rates in severe infections it would certainly be worth it.

Vicky, what do you think?

 

[holly heifer]

:D I have used it on several ill- stressed calves,it did seem to help them out! ;-) These were calves that did not recieve
"real" colostrum, just the store bought version. ` All are about 2 months old and over 240 lbs at the present time :P

 

[Stocker Steve]

Organic guys recommend it and use it. I tried it this spring on repulls. Not enough personal data to make a recommendation.

 

[mermill2]

Dear Milkmaid, Yes, you are right, it is a good thing to know about, so a person can be prepared. Like I said, you never know( if you are going to have to use it) Best,knowing about it also. It sounds pretty good. Merry

 

[milkmaid]

I'll have to give it a try and see how I like it. I had a chance to speak with my vet about it, and he said he hasn't used it a lot but felt it may work very well. He did mention that giving BOTH Immunoboost and also immunoglobulins would probably work much better than just giving the immunoboost alone. He thought the immunoglobulins might go under the name of Bovine IgG -- I haven't been able to locate it yet. I can find Equine IgG but not Bovine.

Anyways, thanks all, and if I get a chance to use this I will let ya'll know how it works for me. :)