Target species Cattle and pigs. Indications for use, specifying the target species Infections associated with bacteria sensitive to ceftiofur. In cattle: For the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease associated with Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica and Histophilus somni. For the treatment of acute interdigital necrobacillosis (panaritium, foot rot), associated with Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (Porphyromonas asaccharolytica). For treatment of the bacterial component of acute post-partum (puerperal) metritis within 10 days after calving associated with Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Fusobacterium necrophorum: this indication is restricted to cases where treatment with another antimicrobial has failed. In pigs: For the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease associated with Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Streptococcus suis. Contraindications Do not administer to an animal previously found to be hypersensitive to ceftiofur and other ?-lactam antibiotics. Do not inject intravenously. Do not use where resistance to other cephalosporins or beta-lactam antibiotics has occured. Do not use in poultry (including eggs) due to risk of spread of antimicrobial resistance to humans. Special warnings for each target species None known. Special precautions for use Special precautions for use in animals Do not use as prophylaxis in case of retained placenta. This product selects for resistant strains such as bacteria carrying extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and may constitute a risk to human health if these strains disseminate to humans e.g. via food. For this reason, this product should be reserved for the treatment of clinical conditions which have responded poorly, or are expected to respond poorly (refers to very acute cases when treatment must be initiated without bacteriological diagnosis) to first line treatment. Official, national and regional antimicrobial policies should be taken into account when the product is used. Increased use, including use of the product deviating from the instructions given in the SPC, may increase the prevalence of such resistance. Whenever possible, this product should only be used based on susceptibility testing. This product is intended for treatment of individual animals. Do not use for disease prevention or as a part of herd health programmes. Treatment of groups of animals should be strictly restricted to ongoing disease outbreaks according to the approved conditions of use. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals Penicillins and cephalosporins may cause hypersensitivity (allergy) following injection, inhalation, ingestion or skin contact. Hypersensitivity to penicillins may lead to cross reactions to cephalosporins and vice versa. Allergic reactions to these substances may occasionally be serious. -Do not handle this product if you know you are sensitised or if you have been advised not to work with such preparations. -Handle this product with great care to avoid exposure. Wash hands after use. -If you develop symptoms following exposure, such as a skin rash, you should seek medical advice and show the doctor this warning. -Swelling of the face, lips or eyes or difficulty with breathing are more serious symptoms and require urgent medical attention. Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness) Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. skin reactions, anaphylaxia) have been reported in very rare cases. In case of the occurrence of hypersensitivity reaction the treatment should be withdrawn. In pigs, mild reactions at the injection site, such as discoloration of the fascia or fat, have been observed in some animals for up to 20 days after injection. In cattle, mild inflammatory reactions at the injection site, such as tissue oedema, thickening of connective tissue and discoloration of the subcutaneous tissue and/or fascial surface of the muscle may be observed in rare cases. Clinical resolution is reached in most animals by 10 days after injection although slight tissue discoloration may persist for 28 days or more. Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay Studies in laboratory animals have not produced any evidence of teratogenic, foetotoxic or maternotoxic effects. The safety of the product has not been established in sows or cows during pregnancy and lactation. Use only according to a benefit/risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction The bactericidal properties of cephalosporins are antagonized by simultaneous use of bacteriostatic antibiotics (macrolides, sulfonamides and tetracyclines).