Efficacy of ceftiofur hydrochloride sterile suspension administered parenterally for the treatment of acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of ceftiofur hydrochloride sterile suspension administered parenterally for treatment of acute postpartum metritis (APM) in dairy cows. DESIGN: Multilocation, randomized block, field trial. ANIMALS: 406 cows in the first 14 days postpartum. PROCEDURE: Cows with rectal temperatures > or = 39.5 degrees C (103.1 degrees F) without clinical signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal tract disease and with a fetid vaginal discharge were allocated randomly in blocks of 3 to 3 treatment groups: sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution administered at a dosage of 2 mL/45.4 kg (2 mL/100 lb), SC or IM, once daily for 5 days (control); or ceftiofur hydrochloride administered at a dosage of 1.1 or 2.2 mg of ceftiofur equivalents (CE)/kg (0.5 or 1 mg/lb, respectively), SC or IM, once daily for 5 days. Cows were evaluated on days 6, 10, and 14, and clinical cure or failure to cure was determined. Clinical cure was defined as no additional antimicrobial treatment administered, rectal temperature < 39.5 degrees C, and absence of a fetid vaginal discharge. RESULTS: On day 14, clinical cure rates were 77%, 65%, and 62% for the 2.2 mg of CE/kg, 1.1 mg of CE/kg, and control groups, respectively. No significant differences were detected in clinical cure rates between control and treatment groups on day 10 or 6. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ceftiofur hydrochloride administered at a dosage of 2.2 mg of CE/kg, SC or IM, once daily for 5 days was efficacious for treatment of APM in dairy cows.

A comprehensive review of ceftiofur sodium and hydrochloride formulations for treatment of acute bovine foot rot.

Seven well-controlled studies conducted under multiple management conditions demonstrated that ceftiofur, a late-generation veterinary parenteral cephalosporin, is effective for the treatment of bovine foot rot in beef and dairy cattle. Two preliminary dosage titration studies using a challenge model compared the efficacy of ceftiofur (1.1 mg or 2.2 mg ceftiofur equivalents [CE]/kg administered once daily for 3 days) with placebo. One preliminary clinical study evaluated the efficacy of ceftiofur sodium (1.0 mg CE/kg once daily for 3 days) in lactating dairy cows. Two clinical trials evaluated the efficacy of ceftiofur sodium versus placebo for naturally occurring foot rot, and two trials compared the efficacy of ceftiofur sodium or hydrochloride (1.0 mg CE/kg) with oxytetracycline (6.6 or 10 mg/kg), each administered once daily for 3 days, for treatment of acute foot rot in beef cattle. All trials demonstrated the efficacy of ceftiofur for treatment of acute bovine foot rot. Ceftiofur and oxytetracycline were comparable in efficacy, with ceftiofur having excellent injection-site tolerance and short or no milk discard or preslaughter withdrawal.