title: Prevalence and effect of oxytetracycline on congenital fetlock knuckling in neonatal dairy calves.
abstract: Musculoskeletal system deformities were observed in 24 (34.3%) of 70 neonatal dairy calves that presented with different congenital abnormalities. Among them, 19 calves (27.1%), the majority of which were crossbred Jersey calves of either gender with mean (± s.e.) body weight 22.00 kg ± 1.17 kg and aged 7.11 ± 1.16 days, were presented for treatment of congenital knuckling. Five of the knuckling calves had additional concurrent congenital conditions and were excluded from the present study. All of the remaining 14 calves showing moderate, bilateral fetlock knuckling had a wooden or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) splint applied to the palmar or plantar aspect of the affected limbs. All of the animals received a dose of the analgesic tolfenamic acid intramuscularly, and were randomly allocated to two equal groups. Calves of Group I additionally received oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg intravenous daily for 3 days). The condition resolved satisfactorily in 83.3% and 80.0% calves from the two groups, respectively. The left and right fetlock angle (mean ± SE) reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.01) from 50.57° ± 4.20° to 4.00° ± 2.27° and 48.71° ± 2.37° to 5.33° ± 3.03°, respectively in animals of Group I. In Group II calves, the angles showed reduction from 50.86° ± 2.94° to 4.20° ± 2.75° and from 48.71° ± 3.14° to 6.80° ± 3.34°, respectively. From the present study, it was concluded that bilateral moderate fetlock knuckling in the neonatal dairy calves can be managed satisfactorily with early application of splints. Supplementary use of oxytetracycline at repeated doses of low toxicity had only a marginally beneficial effect.
authors: Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir. fazili_mr@yahoo.co.in.
authors: Mujeeb R
authors: MR
authors: Fazili
authors: Hiranya K
authors: HK
authors: Bhattacharyya
authors: Manzoor u R
authors: Mu
authors: Mir
authors: Abdul
authors: A
authors: Hafiz
authors: Noore A
authors: NA
authors: Tufani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000151:congenital*; D003286:Contracture / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013165:Splints
chemical_list: D010118:Oxytetracycline