Objective: To compare the effects of two non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (flunixin meglumine and ketoprofen) on haematological and some biochemical parameters of cattle. Design: Self controlled experimental study.
Animals: Five clinically healthy male cattle with average weight of 150±5kg.
Procedure: Blood samples were taken for 3 consecutive days after administration of equal volume of distilled water as for control. Ketoprofen (30 .µg/kg BW) was given intramuscularly for 3 days. Blood samples were obtained from the first treatment clay until four days after final dosage. All the cattle were given 2 months rest and then blood samples were collected in a similar way as described above, before the second drug was given. Flunixin meglumine (22 . µg/kg 8W) was injected intravenously for 5 days and blood samples were collected for 7 days starting from the first day of injection. Statistical analysis: The data were analysed statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The differences between the means were statistically estimated by the Duncans test.
Results: Results revealed that PCV decreased and the percentage of neutrophils and monocytes increased significantly in flunixin megluminc group (p
Conclusion: On the basis of the results it is concluded that ketoprofen has less side effects on hacmatotogical and biochemical parameters of cattle than flunixin megluminc. J. Fec. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 57, 2: 95-99, 2002.
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