Target Species
Sheep and cattle
Indications for use
For the treatment and prevention of coccidial infections in lambs caused in particular by the more pathogenic Eimeria species, Eimeria crandallis and Eimeria ovinoidalis.
To aid in the control of coccidiosis in calves caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii.
Contraindications
None.
Special warnings for each target species
None.
Special precautions for use
For oral use only.
It is advocated to treat all lambs of the flock and all calves in a pen. This will contribute to reduce the infection pressure and assure a better epidemiological control of the coccidiosis infection.
Lambs
On rare occasions, in highly susceptible lambs e.g. where they have been housed for long periods of time before being turned out onto heavily contaminated pasture, a severe scour has been seen shortly after dosing. In such cases, fluid therapy is essential and the use of a sulphonamide should be considered. It is also important to consider other potential pathogens that may be playing a role e.g. Cryptosporidium, Nematodirus, Rotavirus, Giardia and E. Coli.
Calves
Clinical coccidiosis generally occurs late in the parasite’s life cycle after most of the damage to the calf’s intestine has already been done. This severely damaged intestine can easily be infected by secondary bacteria and/or other agents. In cases of acute clinical coccidiosis treated with Vecoxan, fluid therapy is essential and the use of an antibiotic should be considered. Symptoms of clinical disease may remain obvious in some calves treated with Vecoxan, even though oocyst excretion is reduced to a very low level, and overall prevalence of diarrhoea is decreased.
Operator warnings
Wash hands after use.
Adverse Reactions
None reported.
Use during pregnancy or lactation
Not applicable.
Interactions
None known.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
To ensure the correct dosage, bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible.
Lambs:
Therapeutic use: 1 mg diclazuril per kg bodyweight or 1 ml Vecoxan oral suspension per 2.5 kg bodyweight, as a single administration.
Preventative use: 1 mg diclazuril per kg bodyweight or 1 ml Vecoxan oral suspension per 2.5 kg bodyweight at about 4-6 weeks of age at the time that coccidiosis can normally be expected on the farm.
Under conditions of high infection pressure, a second treatment may be indicated about 3 weeks after the first dosing.
Calves:
To aid in the control of coccidiosis: 1 mg diclazuril per kg bodyweight or 1 ml Vecoxan oral suspension per 2.5 kg bodyweight, administered as a single dose, 14 days after moving into a potentially high risk environment.
If a satisfactory response is not observed, then further advice should be sought from your veterinary surgeon and the cause of the condition should be reviewed. It is good practice to ensure the cleanliness of calf housing.
Method of administration
Shake well before use.
After using draw-off cap, re-close container with original cap. Vecoxan oral suspension should be administered with a drenching gun. Appropriate drenching equipment should be used to allow accurate dosing. This is particularly important when administering small volumes.
Overdose
Vecoxan oral suspension was given to lambs as a single dose up to 60 times the therapeutic dose. No adverse clinical effects were reported.
No adverse effects were noted either at 5 times the therapeutic dose administered four consecutive times with a 7-day interval.
In calves, the product was tolerated when administered up to five times the recommended dose rate.
Withdrawal periods
Meat and offal:
Lambs: zero days
Calves: zero days