Effectiveness and kinetic behaviour of tilmicosin in the treatment of respiratory infections in sheep

Nineteen sheep which were anorexic, pyrexic, coughing dyspnoeic and had a nasal discharge and symptomatic thoracic sounds on auscultation, received a single subcutaneous dose of 10 mg/kg bodyweight of tilmicosin. The clinical signs were eliminated within four to six days. The kinetic profiles of the drug after a single subcutaneous injection were compared in five healthy sheep and five infected sheep. More of the drug was absorbed by the infected animals and its concentration remained higher for significantly longer. The drug was well tolerated and no local or systemic side effects were observed.