th

March is a busy month when one season hopefully ends and another begins.  We have had a weird winter with varying temps that has affected many animals.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th for those who celebrate it and the first day of spring
is officially on March 20th. (We’ll see !)  Let’s not forget the tournaments: hockey, wrestling, and basketball make for fun weekend cheering for your favorite teams.  Good Luck to All !!

Respiratory Disease in calves:
For calves with only a single sign of respiratory disease detected from outside the pen – nasal discharge, eye discharge, dropped ear or cough – we would like you to take its temperature. For any calves that have two or more signs of respiratory disease at the same time – cough, colored (white, yellow, blood tinged) nasal or eye discharge, drooping or twitching ears, or fever (<100 or >103) – treat with an antibiotic. Calves with respiratory disease should be given an antibiotic treatment protocol that provides 5-6 days of coverage. One time and multiple dose treatment protocol examples are shown below. Call us to advise you on the most appropriate choice for your calves. It is very important to treat calves with respiratory disease early, so that they can be cured before they move into the transition barn.
These are antibiotic protocols that provide appropriate antibiotic coverage with a single treatment:
•Baytril 100 (Enrofloxacin) Dose: 11 mg/kg=5 cc per 100 lb.   Route: SQ
•Draxxin (Tulathromycin) Dose: 2.5 mg/kg=1.1 cc per 100 lb.   Route: SQ
•Excede (Ceftiofur) Dose: 6.6 mg/kg=1.5 cc per 100 lb.   Route: SQ (ear as instructed)
•Nuflor (Florfenicol) Dose 40 mg/kg=6 cc per 100 lb.  Route: SQ
•Zuprevo (Tildipirosin) Dose: 4 mg/kg=1 cc per 100 lb.  Route: SQ

The following antibiotic protocols for respiratory disease require more than one injection as described:
•Baytril 100 (Enrofloxacin) 5 mg/kg=2 cc/100 lb. SQ  Once daily for 3 days
•Excenel or Naxcel (Ceftiofur) 2.2 mg/kg=2 cc/100 lb. SQ Once daily for 3-5 days
•Nuflor (Florfenicol) 20 mg/kg=3 cc/100 lb. SQ Every other day for 2-3 doses

Banamine may be used as follows for calves that have a temperature that is greater than 103° F or lower than 100°F, have respiratory distress or a combination of respiratory disease and diarrhea
•    Dose: 1 mg/kg (1 cc/100 lbs.)  Route: Intravenously, Frequency: Give once only unless directed by us to repeat treatment. For calves that do not                         improve (reduced fever, improved appetite, less respiratory distress), banamine can be repeated 24 hours later.

Call us if calf has not improved within 3 days. At the end of the 5 to 6 day respiratory disease treatment protocol, the calf should be evaluated again. If the calf has none or only one of the signs indicative of respiratory disease, the calf is considered cured and no more treatment is needed. If the calf still has two or more of the signs listed above, call us to examine the calf before starting a second antibiotic.

FYI  TO OUR HORSE CLIENTS:
Save the date for our Coggins Clinic Saturday April 18th at the Rice County Fairground from 1-3pm. Special rates for coggins test with services to be paid for at the time performed.  Vaccinations are also offered. Everyone is welcomed to come!  COME MEET DR. CASEY RABBE , Our Equine & Small Animal Veterinarian!!

March 2015 Coupon

$2.00 off a box of Spectramast Lactating or Dry Cow Tubes
$5.00 off each bottle of Exenel
$1.00 off each bag of Calf’s Choice Colostrum Replacer

Expires 3/31/15