Updates on Best Practices for NSAID use in Dairy Cattle – Sponsored by Merck Animal Health

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AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Hans Coetzee, Professor and Head, Anatomy and Physiology at Kansas State University, and Dr. Lowell Midla, technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health.

Coetzee reviews why pain and fever management are important in cattle and the challenges associated with managing pain in cattle. He reviews the NSAID options that are available and the process for achieving FDA approval for a pain indication. We also discuss labor and human considerations for pain management and use of flunixin transdermal solution.
Midla discusses the recent FDA approval of Banamine Transdermal for a claim that gives dairy veterinarians a new NSAID option for lactating cows and the reasons Merck Animal Health brought this product to market. We discuss that routes of administration for flunixin products that are not on the label can cause severe tissue damage as well as lead to violative meat and milk residues. Banamine Transdermal received the claim for control of fever associated with acute mastitis in lactating dairy cattle with a 48-hour milk discard and eight-day preslaughter withdrawal period. Midla reviews the evidence for the rapid effectiveness and duration of the transdermal route of administration compared to the IV route. He also discusses reasons for not administering the product in periparturient cows and encourages veterinarians to thoroughly review product label information. Finally, he reviews some of the research demonstrating a reduction in fever in cows with acute mastitis compared to controls.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR BANAMINE® TRANSDERMAL. NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Milk that has been taken during treatment and for 48 hours after treatment must not be used for human consumption. Cattle must not be slaughtered for human consumption within 8 days of the last treatment. Not for use in replacement dairy heifers 20 months of age or older or dry dairy cows; use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or calves born to these cows or heifers. Not for use in beef and dairy bulls intended for breeding over 1 year of age, beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, and veal calves. Do not use within 48 hours of expected parturition. Approved only as a single topical dose in cattle. For complete information on Banamine® Transdermal, see accompanying product package insert.

LINKS:

BANAMINE® TRANSDERMAL | Merck Animal Health USA (merck-animal-health-usa.com) (click "View Product Label" when on this page)
Effects of a single transdermal administration of flunixin meglumine in early postpartum Holstein Friesian dairy cows: Part 1. Inflammatory and metabolic markers, uterine health, and indicators of pain

Schmitt et al JDS 2023
Effects of a single transdermal administration of flunixin meglumine in early postpartum Holstein Friesian dairy cows: Part 2. Milk yield, culling risk, and reproductive performance

Schmitt et al JDS 2023
The effects of periparturient administration of flunixin meglumine on the health and production of dairy cattle.

Newby et al JDS 2017