Cattle coughing - continues after dosing

lanod2407

Dosed cattle last Saturday with Bimectin Plus - one of the heifers (24 months) had a cough. 4 days later and she's still coughing hard. I know that if they've got worms the cough will get worse as she coughs up the dead stuff - can someone tell me how long this should take?
Want to get her looked at if there's something else wrong with her, so looking to find out how long I should leave her after dosing.

_Brian

Need to be careful.
If the worm burden was high they actually recommend an oral dose.

The bimectins tend to kill the worms quickly, all the dead worms in te lungs can be very hard on an animal, along with a lot of coughing it's not uncommon for pneumonia to develop from the dead worms in the lungs.

Keep a tight eye on her for other symptoms. Dull look in eyes, off feed, depressed, temperature.

greysides

I wouldn't worry at four days.

There is some variance of opinion about whether ivermectin kills lungworms too quick. The manufacturers says it doesn't, naturally

LEVAMISOLE
This drug is rapidly absorbed following administration as a drench, injection or pour on formulation. It causes an almost instantaneous spastic paralysis in nematodes. In support of the speed of action achieved by levamisole, it has been shown that 87% of lungworm burdens were reduced within 3 hours of subcutaneous drug administration (Oakley, Vet Record 1980).

BENZIMIDAZOLES
They are slowly absorbed and disrupt energy metabolism, leading to starvation of the parasite. In contrast to levamisole, the speed of action for fenbendazole (oral suspension) was much longer, taking 36 hours to achieve an 80% reduction in lungworm burden (Oakley 1980). While efficacy against adult lungworm is good, it is more variable for larval stages and adult worms can therefore develop from these earlier less susceptible stages present at the time of treatment.
It has been established that benzimidazole anthelmintics were associated with a higher mortality rate than levamisole when treating for parasitic bronchitis (McEwan et al 1979, Jarrett et al 1980).

MACROCYCLIC LACTONES
These drugs are highly lipophilic and are stored in fat following administration, being slowly released over a period of time. They have varying duration of persistency against different nematodes depending on the product and formulation. Ivermectin and eprinomectin reach peak plasma levels 2-5 days following administration.

So, hard to get a handle on what's best.

Deepsouthwest

Cows went through the fence yesterday, when we got them back after a small bit of running, a few of them were coughing, not a lot maybe 10% max. Is this sign enough that they need to get eprinex/eprizero or one of these pour-ins? All cows in good order and milking v well. I want to keep them this way

Greengrass1

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Cows went through the fence yesterday, when we got them back after a small bit of running, a few of them were coughing, not a lot maybe 10% max. Is this sign enough that they need to get eprinex/eprizero or one of these pour-ins? All cows in good order and milking v well. I want to keep them this way

Our heifers are the same. All got a dose 2 wks ago plus. Not sure could be longer ill have to look at book to be sure. Leaving paddock the other day they all took a bolt towards gap when I was half way there. Alot coughing fairly hard. Have been vaccinated for ibr

Matty6270

Hi I know this is a old tread but il give it a go. I injected calves with Bimectin plus yesterday and I see today 3-4 or coughing a lot. Is up this Normal with worms dying.
Will I just aphave to make sure they don’t get pneumonia

_Brian

Keep a tight eye.
It’s normal to have coughing as the worms die in their lungs and are coughed up.
Now, the thing with the injection is it kills all the worms and quickly which if there is a heavy worm burden can cause pneumonia in cattle as they are unable to keep the dead rotting worms coughed up.

Years ago my vet advised if you fear a heavy burden then a drench is safer as the kill is slower allowing cattle keep their airway clear.

Matty6270

I will keep a good eye on them. So they do usually cough after the injection yes

Lime Tree Farm

Yes to coughing. How old are they, was it their first treatment ?

Matty6270

It was there first treatment alright. There 7-9 months

Bass Reeves

Matty6270 wrote: »

It was there first treatment alright. There 7-9 months

Keep a right close eye on them. Suckler bred cattle which are off the cows a while should never get an ivermectin as the first dose. Nowadays you have to oral dose them with a drench. Drenches paralyse the worms and the animal can cough them out easier. There used to be a levicide pour on that did the same thing but it is gone off the market.

2-3 weeks after the oral drench then use the ivermectin to clear rest of worms

Matty6270

Ahh ok. So worse case if they start to heavy panting etc (pneumonia signs) what is good to give them then

Bass Reeves

Matty6270 wrote: »

Ahh ok. So worse case if they start to heavy panting etc (pneumonia signs) what is good to give them then

We cannot give vetenenary advice here as it is disallowed in the charter. However I take there temperature daily for next 2-3 days and talk to vet. Tell him what you did and he will advise you of the best medication.

Lime Tree Farm

I think they should be fine. (I am presuming they are home bred, weaned and not bought in).

Jack C

Definitely keep a close eye. I had a bunch of 14 month old bulls that I did with an avermectin injection in October. All kept coughing for a good while afterwards. Then noticed one with a bit of a pant one day. Vet came that eve and gave a few shots... one into the vein. Next morning still the same. Vet again ...more shots. Bull deterioted and died next day.
Vet said those stronger animals find it harder to recover than the younger ones.