Target Species
Cattle (dairy cows at drying-off).
Indications for use
Prevention of new intramammary infections throughout the dry period.
In cows considered likely to be free of sub-clinical mastitis, the product can be used on its own in dry cow management and mastitis control.
Contraindications
Do not use the product alone in cows with sub-clinical mastitis at drying off. Do not use in cows with clinical mastitis at drying off. Do not use in lactating cows. See section ‘Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay’.
Do not use in known cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
Special warnings for each target species
Selection of cows for treatment with the product should be based on veterinary clinical judgement. Selection criteria may be based on the mastitis and cell count history of individual cows, or recognized tests for the detection of sub-clinical mastitis or bacteriological sampling.
Special precautions for use
It is good practice to observe dry cows regularly for signs of clinical mastitis. If a sealed quarter develops clinical mastitis, the affected quarter should be stripped out manually before appropriate therapy is instituted.
To reduce the risk of contamination, do not immerse the syringe in water.
Use the syringe only once.
It is important to observe strict aseptic technique for the administration of the product, because the product does not have antimicrobial activity.
Do not administer any other intramammary product following administration of the product.
In cows that may have sub-clinical mastitis, the product may be used following administration of a suitable dry cow antibiotic treatment to the infected quarter.
Operator warnings
This product may cause skin and eye irritation. Avoid contact with skin or eyes.
Should skin or eye contact occur, wash the affected area thoroughly with water.
Bismuth salts have been associated with hypersensitivity reactions. If you know that you are allergic to bismuth salts, avoid using this product. If you develop symptoms following exposure, you should seek medical advice and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Wash hands after use.
Disinfectant wipes:
The disinfectant wipes may cause skin and eye irritation due to the presence of isopropyl alcohol. Avoid eye contact. Avoid prolonged contact with skin. Avoid inhalation of the vapour. The wearing of gloves may prevent skin irritation. Wash hands after use.
Adverse Reactions
None known.
Use during pregnancy or lactation
Pregnancy:
As the product is not absorbed following intramammary infusion, it can be used in pregnant animals. At calving, the seal may be ingested by the calf. Ingestion of the product by the calf is safe and produces no adverse effects.
Lactation:
The product is indicated for use in dry cows. If accidentally used in a lactating cow, a small (up to 2-fold) transient rise in somatic cell count may be observed. In such an event, strip out the seal manually, no additional precautions are necessary.
Interactions
In clinical trials, the compatibility of a comparable teat seal formulation containing bismuth subnitrate has only been shown with a cloxacillin-containing dry cow preparation.
See also section ‘Special precautions for use in animals’.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For intramammary use only.
The product has a dual tip nozzle. The cap of the syringe can be partially or fully removed. It is recommended to pinch the teat at the teat base as it aids in positioning the paste in the teat cistern, sealing the teat canal from the top.
Short tip option: The short tip option allows for a partial insertion technique so that the syringe only needs to be inserted in the teat end.
Long tip option: The long tip option may be used for treatment convenience for example to prevent the tip from flipping out due to a moving or nervous cow.
Step 1: Removal of the breakable cap
Step 2: Long or short tip insertion
Infuse the content of one syringe of the product into each udder quarter immediately after the last milking of the lactation (at drying off). Do not massage the teat or udder after infusion of the product because it is important that the sealant stays in the teat itself and does not enter the udder.
Care must be taken not to introduce pathogens into the teat in order to reduce the risk of post-infusion mastitis.
It is essential that the teat is thoroughly cleaned with the alcoholic disinfectant wipes provided. The teats should be wiped until there is no visible dirt collected on the wipe. Teats should be allowed to dry prior to infusion. Infuse aseptically and take care to avoid contamination of the syringe nozzle. Following infusion, it is advisable to use an appropriate teat dip or spray.
Under cold conditions the product may be warmed to room temperature in a warm environment, to aid syringeability.
Overdose
Twice the recommended dose has been administered to cows with no clinical adverse effects.
Withdrawal periods
Meat and offal: Zero days.
Milk: Zero hours.