Ceftiofur sodium was evaluated as a
therapy for
respiratory infections in horses. This
cephalosporin antimicrobial was administered intramuscularly every 24 h and at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg (1.0 mg/lb) of
body weight. The efficacy of
ceftiofur sodium was compared with that of a positive control drug,
ampicillin sodium (recommended dose of 6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb], given every 12 h). Both treatments were continued for 48 h after clinical symptoms were no longer evident (maximum of 10 days). Fifty-five (55) horses with naturally acquired
respiratory infections were included in the study; 28 were treated with
ceftiofur and 27 with
ampicillin. Clinical improvement was recorded for 92.9% of the patients treated with
ceftiofur and 92.6% of the animals receiving
ampicillin. Both
therapies reduced body temperatures to an afebrile level after 2 days of treatment. Complete recovery/cure was noted for 78.6% of the
ceftiofur patients and 59.3% of the horses treated with
ampicillin. Supporting variables (depression/malaise, respiration/dyspnoea, nasal discharge) were assessed and these also substantiated the effectiveness of the treatments. Both
antibiotics were well tolerated. Neither
pain nor swelling were noted at the
ceftiofur injection site(s). None of the animals developed diarrhoea. Data from this study indicated that
ceftiofur sodium is an effective and safe treatment for
respiratory infections in horses.