The named veterinary surgeon has to decide whether or not clinical cases infected with clostridia species should be treated or humanely destroyed.
Treatment of bacillary haemoglobinuria with penicillin can be attempted. Treatment of clinical blackleg has met with little success, but intravenous hyperimmune serum together with an injection of crystalline penicillin both intravenously and into the wound has been shown some success. Treatment of malignant oedema can also be attempted with antibiotics and local treatment of the wound with hydrogen peroxide or other oxidising disinfectants. The use of herbal and homoeopathic treatments of wound may also be attempted (Elliott and Pinkus, 1993).
Treatment of tetanus cases is difficult and the response is usually poor. Full doses of antibiotics such as products containing penicillin can be administered to eliminate the bacilli. Tetanus antitoxin should also be given. Success often depends on good nursing with forced feeding (via stomach tube) if necessary. If the infected wound can be found it should debrided and treated with hydrogen peroxide and herbal and/or homoeopathic treatment (Elliott and Pinkus, 1993). Sedation and reduction of muscle tetani, to avoid asphyxia, can also be attempted.