Abstract

This prospective, randomised, nonblinded study compared the clinical efficacy of cefquinome to that of a combination of penicillin and gentamicin. Patients (374 horses and 13 donkeys) at the equine hospital of the Vetsuisse-Faculty of Zurich, presented from February-October 2007, were divided into prophylactic and therapeutic treatment groups. Equids from these groups were randomly treated either with cefquinome or with the combination of sodium penicillin and gentamicin.

There was no significant difference between the 2 treatment groups for prophylactic indications. In the therapeutic group, cefquinome showed better efficacy, as demonstrated by fewer complications of wound healing and fewer treatment failures with subsequent change to another antibiotic. Side effects were very rare in both treatment groups. Cefquinome can be used with safety and efficacy in equids. Cefquinome had greater efficacy than the combination of penicillin and gentamicin in the therapeutic group. However, there was no difference between the 2 antibiotic treatments in the prophylactic group. In order to minimise the development of resistance, cefquinome should therefore not be used for routine prophylactic treatment.