Short communication: Hypernatremia in diarrheic calves associated with oral electrolyte administration in water and milk replacer in absence of access to water

Tonicity of oral rehydration solutions affects water, mineral and acid–base balance in calves with naturally occurring diarrhoea

“…The lower serum Na + in CON calves was the consequence of faecal Na + losses exceeding the daily Na + intake. Although the HYPER treatment was higher in Na + (134 mM), none of the HYPER calves developed hypernatremia, which suggests that calves consumed an adequate volume of supplemental water (1 kg/day; Wilms, Leal, et al, 2020). Serum urea concentrations and urine urea content were lower in calves fed ORS, indicating that all three ORS were able to rehydrate animals to some extent, thus allowing for urea excretion through urine (Higgins, 2016).…”

“…The most concerning health issue related to hypertonic ORS is hypernatremia, where clinical signs include digestive tract upsets, central nervous system dysfunction and death in acute cases (Pringle & Berthiaume, 1988; Wilms, Leal, & Martín‐Tereso, 2020). The excess of solutes present in hypertonic solutions may also worsen the diarrhoea severity by further stimulating water efflux to the lumen of the gut (Lifshitz & Wapnir, 1985).…”

Strategies for Feeding Unweaned Dairy Beef Cattle to Improve Their Health

“…Nowadays, from the scarce information that we have we know that one of the most common reported feeding practices in auction markets or concentration centers is the supplementation of rehydration solutions. Reviewing rehydration there is a great variability in protocols and most strategies in calves are based on oral electrolyte solutions designed for calves with diarrhea and aim to restore hydration and to correct metabolic acidosis [ 77 , 78 ]. The amount of glucose added, if any, is limited and is added to facilitate sodium absorption and to provide an energy source for the calf but the requirements of energy and protein are not achieved compared to whole milk or milk replacer (MR).…”

Does giving dairy calves with diarrhoea a combination of milk and rehydration fluids result in a faster recovery?

“…As well as the three papers included in the final analysis, two other papers were considered in more detail 1,2. However, these were discounted as the treatment groups used did not fit the question being investigated in this evidence analysis.…”

“…In one study, oral electrolytes in water were compared with a milk replacer control 1. In the other, the calves had no access to water and were either given an oral electrolyte solution or a low dose of whey powder 2…”