[Therapeutic and prophylactic action of monensin and nicotinic acid in cows with subclinical ketosis].

Experiments were carried out with sheep and cows on the basis of a limited feed ration--the giving of concentrates was discontinued, and the ration of alfalfa hay was replaced with meadow hay and a monensine supplement (at the rate of 20-25 mg for sheep and 250 mg for cows, daily), and nicotinic acid (at 0.8 g and 6.0 g, respectively). Observations revealed that in the course of 6-7 weeks in succession the drop of blood sugar was reduced, and monensine led to a rise of the alkali reserves of the blood by 27 to 41 per cent. Cows with ketonuria (from ++ up to + positive results with the nitroprusside tests) and hydroglycaemia (blood sugar up to 30 mg) were treated with monensine at the rate of 125 mg, in the morning and in the evening or with nicotinic acid at 3 g and the same frequency for 6-7 consecutive days. The symptoms receded to a greater extent (12.1 to 60 per cent) as compared to the process of self-healing for the same time period. In this respect the effect of monensine was better manifested. It was demonstrated that the prophylactic use of these drugs inhibited to a minimum the manifestation of hypoglycaemia and ketonuria.