Getting the straight shot on antibiotics

Man’s best friend may be his dog, but to a cattleman, his best assistant (besides his wife) may be his trusty bottle of antibiotics. However, not all antibiotics are created equal and in order for producers to get the most from this “management assistant”, other factors such as handling, storage, application, injection sights and expiration dates must also be taken into consideration. Here are some simple steps and rules to follow in order to maximize your antibiotics effectiveness.

Diagnosing the illness and selecting the proper antibiotic regimen: In an article written by Dr. Dave Van Metre, DVM, DACVIM, Extension Ve-terinarian, Colorado State University, he suggests that producers consult with their veterinarian regarding treatments and the best antibiotics to use in a variety of scenarios because how an infection reacts and whether your treatment will be effective depends on proper diagnosis. 

The article explained it this way: If the bacteria is a Mycoplasma, it needs to be treated with a drug that has lipid-soluble properties. Mycloplasma reside inside the animal’s cells and the lipid-rich cell membrane will limit the ability of water-soluble drugs, like sulfonamides, to penetrate the cell and affect these bacteria. In addition, Mycloplasma are not susceptible to penicillins or cephalosporins because they lack a cell wall, which is the site in other bacteria where these antibiotics attack. It is imperative that the proper drug is selected in order to expect a reasonable treatment and recovery.

Follow all labeling instructions. Reading the directions may not be your strong suit, but when it comes to antibiotics, it’s imperative that labeling instructions regarding withdrawal times, injection methods, storage and handling should be followed to achieve maximum effectiveness. 

While withdrawal times do not specifically affect how an antibiotic works, within a family of drugs, particular brands may have different withdrawal periods, so the selection of the antibiotic may be swayed by the length of withdrawal, especially for animals scheduled for sale or slaughter. 

According to Dr. Dan Posey, DVM, Director of Special programs, and Diplomat, American Board of Veterinary Prac-titioners-Beef, with Texas A&M University, “We are in a position of trust where the consumer is concerned. They expect producers and veterinarians to provide a safe and wholesome product. If we do not adhere to labeling instructions as it pertains to use, withdrawal and injection types, we are compromising our product and the trust of the consumer,” he stated. 

“In keeping with Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines,” said Posey, “drugs that are recommended for subcutaneous (SQ) administration should be given SQ in the neck region, ahead of the shoulders. All products labeled for intra-muscular (IM) use should be given in the neck region only, no exceptions, regardless of age, with no more than 10 cc of product administered per IM injection.”

“In addition, it’s critical to use the correct needle size and length,” Posey continued. I recommend the following:

• 16 g x 3/4-1 inch for SQ injections

•  16 g x 1 inch for IM injection in calves

•  16 g X 1 1/2 inch for IM injections in others

And always use sharp needles, don’t resharpen, EVER, as the tips get weak and can break off in the animal,” he concluded.

“Since BQA guidelines were developed, we have nearly eliminated injection site lesions and many of the other issues that were prevalent in our industry, prior to the time when all segments of our industry started working together to develop these guidelines and educating producers,” he explained.

Keep it clean: Good animal husbandry practices include using clean needles. 

“Each time you pierce the diaphragm of that drug bottle you are potentially compromising the drug, by introducing infected blood or tissue that transfers from that needle to the contents,” Posey said.

Storage and handling: Improper storage and handling can have an adverse effect on performance. 

“Heat and sunlight (more than cold) can really break down some products, so follow company recommendations for storage, etc,” Posey said. “The drug companies, along with the FDA have spent lots of time and money researching products and how they perform under certain conditions, so use their recommendations to get maximum performance.”

“If you are working through a large number of animals and the recommendation is to keep the medicine above or below a certain temperature then you should keep a cooler chute-side. We’ve all seen coolers with holes cut in the top to drop multi-dose syringes back into. These modified coolers are handy to have and help to keep products at more even temperatures and even aid in keeping equipment cleaner than if it was exposed. If the product is labeled to work best at a particular temperature, then it’s in the producer’s best interest to try to adhere to those guidelines for maximum performance,” Posey stated.

No cocktailing or “mixing” of drugs: Posey emphatically recommends producers never mix two or more drugs in a single shot. 

Treatment frequency and cost: Both can play a role in the outcome of treatment. It may seem attractive to use a lesser priced drug for treatment, but if it doesn’t do the job then you find yourself with an ineffective treatment and an animal that is still sick. In addition if a treatment requires repeated dosing, the labor and time, plus the stress in handling the cattle may point toward using a longer acting product, even if it’s more expensive.

Expiration dates: Once expired, drugs start to lose their potency. 

“If a producer chooses to use a product that isn’t at full potential, again, animals may not recover as fast, may need retreatment, or potentially they could die. It all adds to loss of time and money. Small producers who make up the majority of our cattlemen today, have to be particularly watchful of this, as they may not go through medicine or vaccines as fast as larger producers. It’s just good practice to buy in small dose bottles, even if the cost per dosage is a bit higher,” suggested Dr. Posey.

New “super drugs” are entering the market at a rapid pace, so work with your veterinarian in order to stay abreast of the type of product that can most effectively treat your problems. Then be sure and follow labeling instructions as they pertain to injection techniques, storage and handling, check expiration dates and practice cleanliness.

Furthermore be vigilant with your bio-security, quarantining new herd additions to ensure you don’t introduce infected animals into your herd and “check those fences” because you never know what might be lurking on the “other side”. 

SLS