Target Species
Cattle, horses and pigs.
Indications for use
In Cattle:
For the control of acute inflammation associated with respiratory disease.
Finadyne has also been shown to have some benefit in the treatment of experimental acute bovine pulmonary emphysema (Fog Fever).
Finadyne Solution may be used as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of acute mastitis.
In Horses:
For the alleviation of inflammation and pain associated with musculo-skeletal disorders.
For the alleviation of visceral pain associated with colic in the horse.
In Pigs:
For use as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of swine respiratory diseases.
Contraindications
Do not exceed the stated dose or the duration of treatment.
Use is contra-indicated in animals suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease, where there is the possibility of gastro-intestinal ulceration or bleeding, or where there is hypersensitivity to the product.
Do not use the product within 48 hours before expected parturition in cows.
Do not administer to pregnant mares.
Do not administer to pregnant sows, gilts at mating and in breeding boars.
Special warning for each target species
Non steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs are not permitted under the rules of Racing and under rules covering other competition events.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has given advice to the Veterinary Profession regarding the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in competing horses. It states that “if a veterinarian recommends the discontinuation of any such drug not less than eight days before racing, he should feel sure that he has catered for all but the most exceptional case”.
Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment.
Special precautions for use
Avoid intra-arterial injection.
Inject slowly as life-threatening symptoms of shock can occur due to the content of propylene glycol. The product should have a temperature close to body temperature. Stop injection immediately if first symptoms of shock occur and start treatment for shock if necessary.
NSAIDS are known to have the potential to delay parturition through a tocolytic effect by inhibiting prostaglandins that are important in signalling the initiation of parturition. The use of the product in the immediate post-partum period may interfere with uterine involution and expulsion of foetal membranes resulting in retained placentae. See also section “Use during pregnancy”.
Use in any animal less than 6 weeks of age or in aged animals may involve additional risk. If such use cannot be avoided animals may require a reduced dosage and careful clinical management.
Do not use in hypovolaemic animals except in the case of endotoxaemia or septic shock.
It is preferable that NSAIDs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis are not administered to animals undergoing general anaesthesia until fully recovered.
The cause of colic should be determined and treated with concurrent therapy.
The product should not be used in piglets weighing less than 6 kg.
Flunixin is toxic to avian scavengers. Do not administer to animals susceptible to enter wild fauna food chain. In case of death or sacrifice of treated animals, ensure that they are not made available to wild fauna.
Operator warnings
Avoid contact with skin or eyes.
In case of skin contact, wash exposed area with water.
In case of eye contact, wash eyes thoroughly with clean water and seek medical advice.
Take care against accidental self injection.
Wash hands after use.
Adverse reactions
Flunixin meglumine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Untoward effects include gastro-intestinal irritation, ulceration and, in dehydrated or hypovolaemic animals, potential for renal damage.
In pigs transient irritation may occur at the injection site, this resolves spontaneously within 14 days.
Anaphylactic-type reactions have been reported in horses and cattle, resulting in collapse following intravenous injection. Such reactions, on very rare occasions have been life-threatening in spontaneous pharmacovigilance reports.
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
- very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reaction(s))
- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)
- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)
- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated)
- very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).
Use during pregnancy or lactation
The product may be used in pregnant and lactating cattle.
The product should only be administered within the first 36 hours post-partum following a benefit/risk assessment performed by the responsible veterinarian and treated animals should be monitored for retained placentae.
Do not use in pregnant mares or pregnant sows. Safety studies in pregnant mares and pregnant sows have not been conducted.
Interaction
Do not administer other NSAIDs concurrently or within 24 hours of each other.
Some NSAIDs may be highly bound to plasma proteins and compete with other highly bound drugs which can lead to toxic effects.
Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Cattle
2 ml per 45 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 2.2 mg flunixin per kg) administered intravenously. Repeat as necessary at 24 hour intervals for up to 5 consecutive days.
Horses
By intravenous injection for musculo-skeletal disorders at the following rate:
1 ml per 45 kg bodyweight (1.1mg flunixin/kg) once daily for up to 5 days according to clinical response.
By intravenous injection for colic at the following rate:
1ml per 45 kg bodyweight (1.1 mg flunixin/kg) repeated once or twice if colic recurs.
For the treatment of endotoxaemia or septic shock associated with gastric torsion and with other conditions in which the circulation of blood to the gastro-intestinal tract is compromised: 0.25 mg/kg every 6-8 hours, by intravenous injection.
Pigs
2 ml per 45 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 2.2 mg flunixin/kg) once by intramuscular injection, in the neck, in conjunction with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The injection volume should be limited to a maximum of 5 ml per injection site.
An appropriately graduated syringe must be used to allow accurate administration of the required dose volume. This is particularly important when injecting small volumes.
When intramuscular injection is used, the dose should be divided between two injection sites on either side of the neck.
In order to prevent excessive broaching of the rubber stopper, it is not recommended that the stopper is broached more than 25 times.
Overdose
Overdosage studies in the target species have shown the product to be well-tolerated. Flunixin meglumine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Overdosage is associated with gastrointestinal toxicity. Concurrent use of nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided.
Withdrawal period
Animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment.
Cattle: 5 days from the last treatment.
Horses: 7 days from the last treatment.
Pigs: 22 days from the last treatment.
Milk for human consumption must not be taken during treatment. Milk for human consumption may only be taken from cattle after 24 hours from the last treatment.