Clinical trial of long-acting oxytetracycline and piroxicam in the treatment of canine ehrlichiosis.

Forty-three dogs with canine ehrlichiosis were treated with long-acting oxytetracycline (TLA) at a dose of 20 mg/kg. In order to eliminate pain at the site of injection of TLA, varying doses of piroxicam were administered intramuscularly to the treated dogs. A minimum of 15 mg of piroxicam proved effective in eliminating pain and swelling at the TLA-injection sites, while fever was eliminated with a minimum of 10 mg of piroxicam 24 hours post-treatment. Rapid restoration or improvement of appetite in treated dogs was also observed after treatment with piroxicam and TLA. Both TLA and piroxicam were found to be suitable for use in dogs.