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  Discussion on Baytril (enrofloxacin) safe for a 2 year old?
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New Member:
frieden

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2018 - 7:57 am:

My 2 year old got a respiratory infection while at a rehab facility where lots of race horses come and go. They treated the affected horses with SMZ, and everyone cleared up but my 2 year old. A month later they treated him with Baytril. I am not sure what diagnostics they did to make that decision as if it was viral the antibiotics would not have helped.

I read about Baytril not being safe to use for young horses due to cartilage damage. Is this something to be concerned about with a 2 year old?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2018 - 8:32 am:

Welcome Freiden,
I don't think I would be too concerned as 2 years old is fairly mature and a bacterial respiratory infection is a significant indication for use. This is not the same as saying there is no concern but after more than a decade of regular use enrofloxacin is considered fairly safe in adult horses. Here is a cautionary tale and still represents are current state of knowledge:

Cell Biol Toxicol. 2004 Feb;20(1):41-54.

The effect of enrofloxacin on cell proliferation and proteoglycans in horse tendon cells.

Yoon JH1, Brooks RL Jr, Khan A, Pan H, Bryan J, Zhang J, Budsberg SC, Mueller PO, Halper J.
Author information

Abstract
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been used widely in humans and domestic animals, including horses, because of their broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, and relative safety. The use of fluoroquinolones, however, is not without risk. Tendonitis and spontaneous tendon rupture have been reported in people during or following therapy with fluoroquinolones. We have studied the effects of enrofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used commonly in domestic animals, on tendon cell cultures established from equine superficial digital flexor tendons. Effects on cell proliferation and morphology were studied using cell counting and scanning electron microscopy. Monosaccharide content and composition was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Western and Northern blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the synthesis and expression of two proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin. Our data demonstrate that enrofloxacin inhibits cell proliferation, induces morphological changes, decreases total monosacharide content and alters small proteoglycan synthesis at the glycosylation level in equine tendon cell cultures. These effects are more pronounced in juvenile tendon cells than in adult equine tendon cells. We hypothesize that morphological changes and inhibition of cell proliferation are a result of impaired production of biglycan and decorin, proteoglycans involved in fibrillogenesis of collagen, the most important structural component of the tendon of enrofloxacin-treated tendon cells. Our findings suggest that fluoroquinolones should be used with caution in horses, especially in foals.
New Member:
frieden

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 22, 2018 - 12:26 pm:

Once my 2 year old came off Baytril, after two weeks he started getting snotty again and has a deep dry cough. My vet suggested putting him back on Baytril for another 2 weeks, however this is a youngster who grew too fast, had check ligament surgery, and the surgeon accidentally severed his DDFT during the surgery. After stall rest and months of gradual increase in exercise, he is surprisingly sound, but I fear doing anything that could negatively impact his tendons.

If a young horse has a persistence upper respiratory infection - clear/white mucus and deep cough, what does one do? It's like his immune system just isn't working.

Thanks,
Heidi
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