Effect of flunixin meglumine on Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin-induced diarrhea in calves.

In a study to evaluate the effect of flunixin meglumine on secretory diarrhea, 11 calves were assigned to 3 groups: group 1 (n = 3) served as controls, group-2 calves (n = 4) were given 2.2 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg, IM at 7 AM and 3 PM, and group-3 calves (n = 4) were given 2.2 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg, IM at 7 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM. All calves were given approximately 200 micrograms of heat-stable Escherichia coli enterotoxin (STa) orally at 8 AM. Mean cumulative fecal output for groups 1, 2, and 3 was 1,331.0 +/- 317.2 g, 1,544.3 +/- 154.4 g, and 785.5 +/- 276.5 g, respectively. There was a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in mean fecal output in group-3 calves, compared with that in groups 1 and 2. Calves in group 2 tended to have a delay, but not a reduction, in their fecal output. At 12 hours, hemoconcentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in group-1 calves than in group-2 or group-3 calves.