Enrofloxacin is an antimicrobial medication used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections in various animal species, including cattle. This broad-spectrum antibiotic belongs to the fluoroquinolone class. It inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase, an enzyme crucial for bacterial DNA replication, leading to bacterial cell death. This mechanism makes it a powerful tool in combating microbial diseases in livestock.
What Enrofloxacin Treats in Cattle
Enrofloxacin is commonly prescribed for bacterial infections in cattle, demonstrating effectiveness against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as mycoplasmas. One of its primary uses is in treating Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), an illness often caused by bacteria like Mannheimia haemolytica. Enrofloxacin can significantly reduce both BRD and mortality rates in calves.
Beyond BRD, enrofloxacin also addresses other systemic bacterial infections in cattle. It controls bacterial infections affecting the mastitis and gastrointestinal tracts. The drug distributes widely throughout the body, reaching high concentrations in organs such as the lungs, liver, kidney, bone, and lymphatic system.
Administering Enrofloxacin to Cattle
Enrofloxacin is administered to cattle through subcutaneous injection. Baytril 100 is given as a single subcutaneous injection for respiratory diseases in cattle. The correct dosage is determined by the animal’s weight and the specific condition being treated, often ranging from 7.5 mg/kg body weight for respiratory diseases.
Administering the full course of treatment as directed by a veterinarian is important to achieve therapeutic success and minimize the risk of bacterial resistance. Proper sterile technique should be followed during injections to prevent secondary infections at the injection site. Subcutaneous injections can cause a transient local tissue reaction, which may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter.
Key Considerations for Use
The use of enrofloxacin in cattle requires careful consideration of safety and regulatory aspects to ensure both animal health and food safety. Enrofloxacin is a prescription-only drug, and its administration should be under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. This oversight helps ensure appropriate diagnosis, dosage, and treatment duration for effective outcomes and minimizing risks.
Withdrawal periods are a safety measure, indicating the time between the last drug administration and when animal products can be safely consumed by humans. For cattle, animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 28 days of the last treatment with enrofloxacin. It is also not approved for female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows, as its use in these animals may result in drug residues in milk or in calves. Strict adherence to these withdrawal periods is necessary to prevent drug residues from entering the human food supply.
Enrofloxacin can have side effects in cattle. High doses or prolonged use, especially in immature animals, have been associated with cartilage damage in weight-bearing joints. Clinical signs such as depression, incoordination, and muscle fasciculation have been observed in calves administered higher doses over several days. Injection site reactions are also possible with subcutaneous administration.
The responsible use of enrofloxacin is important in addressing antimicrobial resistance. Fluoroquinolones, including enrofloxacin, should be reserved for clinical conditions that have responded poorly to other classes of antimicrobials or are expected to do so. Whenever possible, their use should be based on susceptibility testing to ensure effectiveness and to reduce the development of resistance. Proper storage of the medication, within 30 days of first puncture, helps maintain its efficacy.