Sulfamethazine tablets and pneumonia

[Farmerclark]

hoping someone, has used these tablets for pneumonia in a 400 # calf, about 7 days ago, gave him 4 cc of draxinn and he is a little better, but still has congestion, and cough. I think it's best to give a different type of antibiotic, for a second dose, and read on the bottle it's also used for bacterial pneumonia, ( his temp, was 105.3) now it's normal...

 

[Bright Raven]

hoping someone, has used these tablets for pneumonia in a 400 # calf, about 7 days ago, gave him 4 cc of draxinn and he is a little better, but still has congestion, and cough. I think it's best to give a different type of antibiotic, for a second dose, and read on the bottle it's also used for bacterial pneumonia, ( his temp, was 105.3) now it's normal...

Draxxin is labeled for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). But remember, it is not labeled for viral BRD. Sulfamethazine tablets for a calf (400 pounds) will only treat bacterial BRD. If you gave Draxxin in the proper dose and the temperature is now normal, if it were me, I would not administer anything else. The congestion may be residual and unfortunately, if damage occurred to the lung tissue, that can be chronic and permanent.

 

[elkwc]

Each vet is different but mine have me to give either a follow up shot of Draxxin or Nuflor. Those I haven't have had lingering issues and some died. Those I have gave the 2nd shot have all got well. This was all done on a vet's advice

 

[Bright Raven]

Each vet is different but mine have me to give either a follow up shot of Draxxin or Nuflor. Those I haven't have had lingering issues and some died. Those I have gave the 2nd shot have all got well. This was all done on a vet's advice

Elk. That is a good point. BRD is a savage. If you let it go, it can cause permanent lung damage. You make a good point on the follow up treatment. I can buy into that.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I agree with a follow up shot.

 

[wbvs58]

The likes of sulphmethazine and Draxxin are worlds apart. The sulphanilamides were the first antimicrobial discovered. Those of you who have read the James Heriot books may recall when he was treating a farmers calves for scours and expected them all to die and for the farmer to go out of business. In desperation he tried this new drug, sulphanilamide and when he came out in the morning to his amazement and the farmers all the calves were up and drinking. Still gives me goosebumps recalling that story.

Ken

 

[TCRanch]

Agree - follow up. Assuming it's not viral. I've had great luck with Resflor Gold, which is essentially Nuflor with Banamine in it. Draxxin seems to take longer to see the results but also lasts longer. But to answer your original question, prior to Sustain III Calf Boluses being on indefinite backorder, I have given them to calves in the pasture that have a snotty nose, little droopy ear or just a kind of punky. Always seemed to work but these were calves probably 3-4 months old that were already eating cubes (or even literally eating out of my hand) and I would break the bolus in half & either mix them with a pile of cubes or alternate shoving a bolus/cube in their mouth. That said, if a calf was clearly sick I'd catch it, bring it in, work it properly - which would be Resflor or Draxxin and I've only had to follow up a couple times.

 

[Lucky_P]

Clearly, there are more effective antimicrobials on the market today than sulfamethazine, which has been around for nearly 80 years. That said, when it came on the market, it was a 'miracle drug'.
I still use it for the occasional case of footrot - usually in combination with a long-acting oxytetracycline(LA-200/300, etc.) - and have had that combo work OK on respiratory disease, in the past... but would not be my first choice if presented with a BRD case today.
Be aware that if those animals are 'off-feed', and rumen activity is slow to non-existent, those boluses are just gonna lie there in the rumen and do virtually nothing. You've got to have normal rumen movement/activity to keep them moving around in order to dissolve over the 3-4 day period they were designed to deliver. I can't tell you how many BRD cases I've necropsied, only to find virtually pristine sulfa boluses in their rumen.

 

[Bigfoot]

Lucky knows a lot. He’s handy to have to have around.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Lucky - great info - thanks!! Hope you realize how much we DO appreciate you.