Non Responsive Heifer with BRD

[Stocker Steve]

I dehorned a 4 wt. bwf and had her come down with BRD the next week. Started with A-180, then went to A-180 + sulfa, then went to Nuflor, and then went Micotil. Got worried when the A-180 did not work and she developed a frequent dry cough so started taking temps. The Micotil is the only med that dropped her temp - - from about 104.5 to about 103.4. She is thin and a little slow but eats and gets around... I am getting tired of treating her and tempted to turn her back out into the pasture...

Any suggestions?

 

[milkmaid]

How long did you keep her on each of the antibiotics? I think I'd give her a few days on Micotil if that's what she's responding to - as opposed to just the one time treatment. Real problems are often caused by swapping antibiotics and not giving them a chance to work, not giving a high enough dose, and not treating long enough with what does work.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I am giving the standard dosages. Is that reasonable?

Two treatments of the A-180 as noted (which has usually been enough for BRD), and then one treatment of Nuflor, and then a second dose of Mitotil after the first one seemed to help. So 5 treatments total...

 

[msscamp]

I am giving the standard dosages. Is that reasonable?

Two treatments of the A-180 as noted (which has usually been enough for BRD), and then one treatment of Nuflor, and then a second dose of Mitotil after the first one seemed to help. So 5 treatments total...

You might want to talk to your vet about slightly overdosing, especially with first treatments. I'm not sure I would do it with Nuflor (we've used it, but not enough for me to be comfortable with), and I'm not familiar with the other two medications you mention, as we've never used them. Just my thoughts.

 

[Big D]

Whenever I had calves act like this, low grade fever but constant and not really responding to treatments and we went through all the "high powered drugs", I would assume at that point we're dealing with a virus. My approach then was to keep a high level of antibodiotics in their system to help ward off the secondary, bacterial infection. I always used penicillian and spectam given sub-q @ ten ml/cwt each. Most of the time this worked quite well.

 

[Scotty]

I have always been told when using Nuflor and Baytril to wait four to five days to redose. That is at the one time doese level. Same with Draxxin. Give 1cc/cwt Bantemine IM for the fever. Be patient and let the drugs work. Keep it hydrated and up close for monitoring.

 

[TheBullLady]

I would also administer a second dose of Mycotil before I gave up on her. I'm sure the dehorning helped to "spike" the BRD, so it's going to take time and probably a lot of medications to put her right.

My 2 cents on "overdosing". I've been told by two vets that knew me well that it's a good idea to overdose on the first treatment.. the thing to keep in mind is the withdrawl period. It's not going to greater than what is labeled. So if you are planning on shipping a calf after it's been treated, don't do it.

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Steve

When treating BRD, I start with the max single treatment doseage of Nuflor or Baytril followed 3 days later by a repeat dose. If the animal is not responding or their condition deteriorates, I add la 200 or long acting pen along with the Nuflor or Baytril. You can also give Albon SR boluses along with the injectibles. In your situation I would go back to Nuflor 6ml/100 + la 200 4.5ml/100 or la pen 2 ml/100 + banamine 1.5ml/100. My vet recommended this for a similar situation & it worked. Do not give la 200 (oxytet) & pennicillin at the same time as there is some kind of conflict.

Good luck & happy trails.

Brock

 

[Stocker Steve]

Whenever I had calves act like this, low grade fever but constant and not really responding to treatments and we went through all the "high powered drugs", I would assume at that point we're dealing with a virus. My approach then was to keep a high level of antibodiotics in their system to help ward off the secondary, bacterial infection.

I think the dry cough could be a virus. Her temp dropped again after the second Micotil treatment - - about 102.8 now - - so I gave her a third Micotil treatment plus some Banamine.

Thanks for the tips! Steve

 

[Vicky the vet]

I've been told by two vets that knew me well that it's a good idea to overdose on the first treatment.. the thing to keep in mind is the withdrawl period. It's not going to greater than what is labeled. So if you are planning on shipping a calf after it's been treated, don't do it.

Huh? The withdrawl period is LONGER when a higher dose is used than the licenced dose. Also, certain drugs can be fatal when overdosed, such as tetracyclines. Unless specifically told to use a higher dose by a veterinarian, use as directed on the label!

 

[TheBullLady]

My mistake, I worded that incorrectly.

I meant the withdrawl period will be longer, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[milkmaid]

Vicky - how much would you have to overdose on a tetracycline, say oxytet200, for it to be fatal?

 

[ALACOWMAN]

sound's like she has had enough anitibotics too cure 6 calve's i would work more on that appetite. like maybe some B12 shots too boost her up

 

[Howdyjabo]

You need to develop a treatment protocol- and stick to it.
Blindly swapping around is bad on SOOO many levels. And treating without a temperature base to go on is just wrong.


With These new longer acting meds you have to have some balls and stick with it--- and you need to have a good eye and a thermometer to know when to switch.
Everytime you switch meds your odds of having a DL or realizer increases-- so don't be in such a hurry to go there.

And giving Banamine is good but I only use it with a long acting antibiotic becasue I want it out of their system before the next treatment so that I get a REAL temperature to base the treatment on. And I don't want the Banamine to make the animal feel better than it really does come the next treatment.

You also need to factor in environmental issues when taking temperatures. If its a hot day the temps will run higher/ if the calf was aggitated the temp will run higher. If its cold and wet the temps will run low.