Intravenous and Oral Fluid Therapy in Neonatal Calves With Diarrhea or Sepsis and in Adult Cattle

Abstract

Optimal fluid therapy protocols in neonatal calves and adult cattle are based on consideration of signalment, history, and physical examination findings, and individually tailored whenever laboratory analysis is available. Measurement of the magnitude of eye recession, duration of skin tenting in the lateral neck region, and urine specific gravity by refractometry provide the best estimates of hydration status in calves and cattle. Intravenous and oral electrolyte solutions (OES) are frequently administered to critically ill calves and adult cattle. Application of physicochemical principles indicates that 0.9% NaCl, Ringer's solution, and 5% dextrose are equally acidifying, lactated Ringer's and acetated Ringer's solution are neutral to mildly acidifying, and 1.3–1.4% sodium bicarbonate solutions are strongly alkalinizing in cattle. Four different crystalloid solutions are recommended for intravenous fluid therapy in dehydrated or septic calves and dehydrated adult cattle: (1) lactated Ringer's solution and acetated Ringer's solution for dehydrated calves, although neither solution is optimized for administration to neonatal calves or adult cattle; (2) isotonic (1.3%) or hypertonic (5.0 or 8.4%) solutions of sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of calves with diarrhea and severe strong ion (metabolic) acidosis and hyponatremia, and adult cattle with acute ruminal acidosis; (3) Ringer's solution for the treatment of metabolic alkalosis in dehydrated adult cattle, particularly lactating dairy cattle; and (4) hypertonic NaCl solutions (7.2%) and an oral electrolyte solution or water load for the rapid resuscitation of dehydrated neonatal calves and adult cattle. Much progress has been made since the 1970's in identifying important attributes of an OES for diarrheic calves. Important components of an OES for neonatal calves are osmolality, sodium concentration, the effective SID that reflects the concentration of alkalinizing agents, and the energy content. The last three factors are intimately tied to the OES osmolality and the abomasal emptying rate, and therefore the rate of sodium delivery to the small intestine and ultimately the rate of resuscitation. An important need in fluid and electrolyte therapy for adult ruminants is formulation of a practical, effective, and inexpensive OES.

Associations between Feeding Behaviors Collected from an Automated Milk Feeder and Neonatal Calf Diarrhea in Group Housed Dairy Calves: A Case-Control Study

“…Since NCD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in preweaned calves [ 30 ], we suggest that the use of these feeding behaviors to identify NCD cannot replace physical exams. However, feeding behavior may be useful for identifying which calves require further attention since some calves with NCD require immediate intervention, calves with NCD can present signs of dehydration, metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia and hyperatremia [ 31 , 32 ], which require timely clinical interventions such as fluid therapy to rectify [ 33 , 34 ]. Future research should develop an alert using feeding behavior to detect calves at risk for neonatal calf diarrhea.…”

Evaluation of the optimal strong ion difference concentration of an oral electrolyte and buffering solution for the treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea

“…Previous studies using ORBS with a high SID and glucose-to-sodium ratio below 1.0 [ 21 ], or without any glucose [ 25 ], have also shown a significant improvement of the acid-base status of these calves thereby testing the theory of a benefit to an elevated glucose content in an ORBS. Additional studies are needed to determine the optimal glucose-to-sodium ratio of an ORBS for treatment of NCD [ 7 ]. Glucose and ions (particularly sodium) contribute to the osmolarity of an ORBS solution but have different effects on its tonicity [ 32 ], while only ions determine the SID concentration.…”

Ultrasonographical Assessment of Caudal Vena Cava Size through Different Views in Healthy Calves: A Pilot Study

“…Abdominal diseases requiring surgical intervention are commonly encountered in young calves and can lead to life-threatening hypotension secondary to hypovolemia or septicemia [ 1 , 2 ]. Proper management of hypovolemic and distributive shock in calves might improve survival rates [ 3 , 4 ].…”