Content
One of the most dangerous diseases for calves is diarrhea, which can lead to death if not treated promptly. As a result of prolonged diarrhea, a lot of fluid and salts are removed from the animal’s body, which leads to dehydration. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the water balance is restored by drinking with special solutions. Electrolyte for calves during the treatment of diarrhea allows you to compensate for fluid loss, but it is important to correctly calculate the amount of solution, because its deficiency will not reduce dehydration.
In case of diarrhea, it is important to feed calves with an electrolytic solution to restore the water balance in the animal’s body
What is an electrolyte
Electrolytes are vital minerals for any living organism. They help restore water-salt metabolism and acid-base balance, and also help the full absorption of nutrients. A lack of electrolytes can lead to a decrease in the performance of the body as a whole, loss of large amounts of fluid, as well as muscle cramps and subsequently the death of the animal.With diarrhea, it is the loss of electrolytes that causes dehydration.
The preparations themselves, containing electrolytes, are divided into 2 types:
- water-replenishing solutions for the treatment of diarrhea in calves fed with milk;
- electrolyte powder preparations that support and normalize ionic balance in older calves.
The difference between these two types is only in consistency. For young animals transferred from milk to plant foods, the products are presented in the form of a powder, which requires prior dilution with water.
Benefits of electrolyte for calves
Regardless of the type of preparation, they must include the following components and substances:
- water, which helps replenish fluid in the body;
- sodium is one of the main trace elements involved in the formation of an electrical charge on the membrane;
- glucose, which facilitates the absorption of sodium in the gastrointestinal tract;
- glycine is a simple amino acid that acts as an auxiliary agent for glucose;
- alkaline substances - they are intended to reduce metabolic acidosis, especially bicarbonates;
- salts (potassium, chlorine) – are participants in the restoration process of water balance;
- thickeners that provide the necessary consistency of the medicine;
- microorganisms that help in the normalization and restoration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Thanks to this composition, electrolytic solutions have a positive effect on the calf’s body during diarrhea, restoring water balance, and also normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which helps stop diarrhea.
Indications for use
There are several reasons for the appearance of diarrhea in calves:
- disorder of the digestive system, which can occur as a result of feeding with a milk replacer, when switching to plant foods, vaccinations and other similar reasons;
- diarrhea as a result of infection.
A calf with diarrhea quickly weakens and loses strength, so it is inactive and lies almost all the time
With the first reason, the intestinal flora does not cause much harm. Therefore, calves do not need intensive treatment, but they must be fed with an electrolyte solution. In case of infection, the animal must be strictly monitored, as well as timely treatment with other medications in addition to the rehydration drug. Diarrhea caused by pathogenic microflora can cause serious dehydration in the calf. Due to fluid loss, there is a sharp weight loss of up to 5-10% per day. In this case, the rate of rehydration increases as the degree of fluid loss increases.
Therefore, it is important to carry out daily examination of calves, paying attention to the following symptoms of dehydration:
- dryness, lethargy and decreased elasticity of the skin;
- irritation and restless behavior;
- impotence, in which the calf cannot stand, eat or even drink;
- the condition of the gums, the color of which in a healthy animal should be pink (dryness and a white tint means severe dehydration).
The percentage of dehydration can be determined by the following signs indicated in the table.
Dehydration (%) | Symptoms |
5-6% | Diarrhea without other clinical symptoms, mobility and good sucking reflex |
6-8% | Inactivity, depressed appearance, when pinching the skin it smoothes out in 2-6 seconds, weak sucking reflex |
8-10% | The calf is inactive, lies all the time, looks depressed, weakened, gums are white and dry, the skin smoothes out in more than 6 seconds when pinched |
10-12% | The calf cannot stand up, the skin does not smooth out, the limbs are cold, loss of consciousness is possible |
14% | Death |
Directions for use and dosage
While the calf’s intestines are functioning normally, it needs to be fed with an electrolyte preparation. But with a severe degree of dehydration, in which the animal does not even have the strength to rise, it is necessary to administer electrolyte solutions intravenously.
Electrolytes are used as a solution, but to achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to calculate the volume of the rehydration drug as accurately as possible, because if there is a lack of it, diarrhea will not stop.
It is very important to feed the calf or give it an electrolyte solution until the diarrhea stops completely.
You can correctly calculate the amount of electrolytes per calf using the following formula: the required hydration percentage is divided by 100, the result is multiplied by the calf’s weight (kg). This number will indicate how much electrolyte solution the calf needs to be given along with milk (its substitute). If this number is further divided by 2, the result will correspond to the amount of liquid required in liters.
Electrolytes can be used with milk in the following ways:
- complete refusal of milk (substitute), using only a water-replenishing solution for the entire period of treatment;
- gradual introduction of milk into the diet during treatment (for the first two days, give the calf only an electrolyte solution, on the third day, give milk together with the drug in equal parts, and on the last day of therapy switch completely to milk);
- without excluding milk from the diet - in this case, give a solution of electrolyte and milk in full, only at different times of the day.
Contraindications and side effects
As a rule, electrolytes have no contraindications and do not cause any side effects. Many veterinarians advise giving a sick calf store-bought medications rather than trying to prepare the electrolyte yourself by mixing various substances. In this case, you should definitely pay attention to the sodium content.
Conclusion
Electrolyte for calves is one of the most important drugs for the treatment of diarrhea. This solution allows you to replenish the acid-base balance, as well as normalize water-salt metabolism in the animal’s body.
How to calculate saline solution for diarrhea in three month old calves?
Thank you
Good afternoon.
It depends on the cause of the calf's diarrhea, the severity and duration of the disease.
In the initial stage of the disease, you can give the calf a 1% saline solution (10 grams of salt per 1 liter of warm boiled water).
In more complex cases, a 3-5% solution is used: 30 (or 50) grams of salt per 1 liter of warm boiled water.
A three-month-old calf should be given at least 500-700 ml of warm (36-38°C) saline solution 10-15 minutes before feeding.
However, we want to warn you that saline solution alone will not raise a calf to its feet. We recommend that you contact your veterinarian.