Efficacy of oral potassium chloride administration in treating lactating dairy cows with experimentally induced hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and alkalemia

Abstract

Hypokalemia occurs commonly in lactating dairy cows. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether a 24-h oral KCl dose of 0.4 g/kg of body weight (BW) was effective and safe in hypokalemic cattle; (2) whether potassium was best administered as 2 large doses or multiple smaller doses over a 24-h period; and (3) the effect of oral KCl administration on plasma Mg concentration and urine Mg excretion in fasted lactating dairy cattle. Plasma K and Cl concentrations were decreased, and blood pH increased, in 15 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows by administering 2 intramuscular (i.m.) 10-mg injections of isoflupredone acetate 24h apart followed by 2 i.m. injections of furosemide (1mg/kg of BW) 8h apart and by decreasing feed intake. Cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups with 5 cows/group: untreated control (group C); oral administration of KCl at 0.05 g/kg of BW 8 times at 3-h intervals (group K3); and oral administration of KCl at 0.2g/kg of BW twice at 12-h intervals (group K12). A 24-h KCl dose rate of 0.4 g/kg of BW increased plasma and milk K concentration and plasma Cl concentration, and corrected the metabolic alkalosis and alkalemia, with no clinically significant difference between 2 large doses (group K12) or multiple small doses (group K3) of KCl over 24 h. Oral KCl administration decreased peripheral fat mobilization in cattle with experimentally induced hypokalemia, as measured by changes in plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentration, and slightly augmented the fasting-induced decrease in plasma Mg concentration. Our findings support recommendations for a 24-h oral KCl dose of 0.4 g/kg of BW for treating moderately hypokalemic cattle. Additional Mg may need to be administered to inappetant lactating dairy cattle being treated with oral KCl to minimize K-induced decreases in magnesium absorption.

Characterization of the analytic performance of an electrochemical point‐of‐care meter for measuring β‐hydroxybutyrate concentration in blood and plasma from periparturient dairy cattle

“…The experimental details for these 15 cows have been described. 43 The effect of sample temperature on the measured BHB concentration by the meter was investigated by purposively selecting 14 plasma samples from 10 periparturient cows with BHBp concentrations at 37°C ranging from 0.5 to 7.5 mmol/L in approximately 0.5 mmol/L increments. Plasma samples were placed in a water bath at 7,12,17,22,27,32,37, and 42°C for 30 min and then immediately analyzed in duplicate using the meter as previously described.…”

Biological responses of feedlot cattle to heat load

“…Inadequate dietary potassium would be unlikely in the current experiment given the formulated diet. However there is a prevalence of hypokalaemia in sick lactating dairy cows, which is partially accounted for by a decrease in DMI (Constable et al, 2014). A reduction in DMI is more likely to account for some of the variability in plasma potassium concentrations within the current experiment, especially within heat wave event 2.…”

Comparative study on 3 oral potassium formulations for treatment of hypokalemia in dairy cows

“…9 Some studies have considered that the measurement of intracellular potassium may be even more relevant than the usually measured extracellular potassium concentration to assess the total potassium balance. 1,5,10,11 Oral potassium administration has been recommended for the treatment of hypokalemic cows. The recommendations on the amount and application frequency for oral potassium treatment range widely between 60 and 300 g of potassium chloride per day.…”

“…The recommendations on the amount and application frequency for oral potassium treatment range widely between 60 and 300 g of potassium chloride per day. 5,9,12 However, the total daily doses of potassium chloride should not exceed 0.5 mEq/kg/h of body weight (BW) because this results in diarrhea, convulsions, muscular tremor, excessive salivation, and death. 13 Potassium chloride dissolves in water easily and is readily available for absorption within a short time period.…”