AVPG - Cattle and horses flipbook
The Australian Veterinary Prescribing Guidelines cattle and horse flipbook, detailing antimicrobials for use in cattle and horses.
This page will outline guidelines for antimicrobial use for the following bovine calf diseases:
- Diarrhoea
- Calf diphtheria
- Neonatal septicaemia
Diarrhoea
Diagnostics
Rapid (patient-side) diagnostics, performed on faeces, are available and should be utilised to confirm bacterial origin, as most are not. E. coli (< 3 days of age) and Salmonella are possible bacterial causes.
Treatment
Antimicrobial therapy is not indicated for diarrhoea caused by viruses or crytosporidia. Systemic antimicrobials are indicated when:
- Documented bacterial aetiology
- Sepsis
- High risk of sepsis
Trimethoprim/sulphonamide or oxytetracycline are suitable choices.
Duration of therapy
5 days is generally considered adequate.
Calf diphtheria
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is usually based on clinical signs.
Consider underlying disease (persistently infected with BVD) or foreign body.
Treatment
Procaine penicillin is preferred. Oxytetracycline is a suitable alternative.
Severe cases may require tracheotomy.
Duration of therapy
5 days of procaine penicillin or 2 doses of long-acting oxytetracycline (3 days apart) is generally sufficient.
Neonatal septicaemia
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is generally made from clinical signs.
Consider bacterial aetiology (enteritis, omphalophlebitis/naval ill) or failure of passive transfer
Treatment
Oxytetracycline can be used, but care should be taken with hypovolaemic animals as renal toxicity can occur. Trimethoprim/sulphonamide is a suitable alternative.
Duration of therapy
5-7 days may be sufficient in uncomplicated disease. Longer durations are necessary when omphalophlebitis or septic arthritis develop. Up to 2 weeks may be necessary.
Help make the Guidelines better
Suggest a disease, syndrome or key evidence you think we should include.