Evaluation of the effect of ketoprofen on experimentally induced ephemeral fever in dairy heifers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate ketoprofen for the therapy of ephemeral fever.


METHODS
A blind controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Sixteen cattle (one immature Holstein bull, eight Holstein and seven Jersey heifers).


METHODS
Ephemeral fever was induced by the intravenous injection of blood leucocyte layer from a clinical case. Ketoprofen solution or a coded placebo was injected intramuscularly at the rate of 3 mg/kg daily for three days.


RESULTS
Ketoprofen reversed locomotor dysfunctions significantly compared with controls, but did not have any effect on rectal temperatures, leucocyte counts, plasma fibrinogen concentrations, ionised Ca-concentrations or the presence of dyspnoea.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketoprofen is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of locomotor symptoms of milk fever, but has no effect on the duration of clinical respiratory abnormalities.
Department of Farm Animal Medicine and Production, University of Queensland.
D C
DC
Fenwick
R C
RC
Daniel
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D004810:Ephemeral Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013217:Starvation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007660:Ketoprofen; D002118:Calcium