Effects of pre-shipping enrofloxacin administration on fever and blood properties in adult Thoroughbred racehorses transported a long distance

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of single-dose enrofloxacin (ERFX) on fever and blood properties in 68 Thoroughbred racehorses after long-distance transportation, horses were assigned to receive ERFX (5 mg/kg, IV; ERFX group; n=52) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (50 ml, IV; control group; n=16) ≤1 hr before transportation. Horses were transported 1,122 km using commercial vans over the course of approximately 21 hr. Clinical examinations and hematologic analyses were performed before and after transportation. Rectal temperatures, white blood cell counts and serum amyloid A concentration of ERFX group were significantly lower than control group (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). In conclusion, these results show ERFX administration just before transportation is effective at preventing transportation-associated fever in adult Thoroughbred racehorses.