Treatment of Acute Puerperal Metritis with Flunixin Meglumine in Addition to Antibiotic Treatment

The objective of this field trial was to evaluate effects of a single administration of 2.2 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of flunixin meglumine (FM) in addition to a systemic antibiotic treatment in cows with acute puerperal metritis (APM). Outcome variables tested were proportion of cows with a fever, prevalence of chronic endometritis 18 to 22 and 32 to 35 d in milk (DIM), and reproductive performance measures in the current lactation. In addition, serum concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen were analyzed. Daily milk yield within 6 d after the first treatment was recorded. Cows were examined 4 to 5 DIM by rectal palpation and vaginoscopy, and rectal temperature was measured. Fetid vulvar discharge and a body temperature ≥39.5°C were signs of APM. Cows with APM were treated in the reference group with 1.0 mg/kg of BW of ceftiofur on 3 to 5 consecutive days (CEF, n = 119). In the study group, cows received the same antibiotic treatment as in CEF and 2.2 mg/kg of BW of FM on treatment d 1 (CEF + FM, n = 119). Blood samples were collected 4, 6, and 10 DIM and analyzed for concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen. A group of cows without APM remained untreated and served as controls (n = 9). There were no significant differences between CEF and CEF + FM in the proportion of cows with fever 1 d after the first treatment (33.6 vs. 46.2%), milk yield per milking 10 DIM (7.5 ± 0.3 vs. 7.6 ± 0.3 kg in primiparous, 9.6 ± 0.4 vs. 10.6 ± 0.4 kg in multiparous cows), prevalence of chronic endometritis 32 to 35 DIM (64.3 vs. 52.2%), and in reproductive performance (31.5 vs. 34.3% conception to first AI, 58.0 vs. 54.6% pregnancy rate, 107.8 ± 36.9 vs. 101.6 ± 41.4 d open). Compared with the control, CEF and CEF + FM had significantly greater concentrations of haptoglobin (1.1 ± 0.28 vs. 1.9 ± 0.06 and 1.8 ± 0.07 mg/mL at 4 DIM; 0.3 ± 0.15 vs. 1.1 ± 0.06 and 1.2 ± 0.07 mg/mL at 10 DIM) and fibrinogen (2.2 ± 0.17 vs. 3.9 ± 0.14 and 3.7 ± 0.13 g/L at 4 DIM; 1.9 ± 0.1 vs. 2.6 ± 0.1 and 3.0 ± 0.13 g/L, respectively, at 10 DIM) on all test days. The additional treatment with FM had no effect on these acute phase proteins. In conclusion, the single administration of 2.2 mg/kg of BW of FM in addition to a systemic antibiotic treatment of cows having APM did not result in beneficial effects on clinical cure, milk yield within 6 d after the first treatment, or reproductive performance.