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

In a blinded 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 2 mg/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.