There are numerous antibiotics used in large animal practice that are not used in either small animal nor human medicine. Additionally, there are disease states that are unique to large animals for which these different agents are appropriate. Following is a brief discussion of selected infectious diseases of large animals. Recent cases have been reported in South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and California. Upon death, rigor mortis is rare or incomplete.
Treatment includes penicillin or oxytetracycline.
Additionally, there is a live bacterial vaccine for anthrax. Infection may cause abortion in females and orchitis in males. Infection animals may often demonstrate normal gestation after an initial abortion. No effective treatment exists but a vaccination is available to prevent infection. If animals are infected, generally the entire herd is tested and infected animals must be slaughtered to prevent further infection.