Enteral fluid therapy in neonatal calves and features of commercially available electrolyte solutions in Brazil

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe fluid therapy is indicated for the treatment of diseases that determine dehydration and electrolyte and acid base imbalances and is; therefore, commonly used in ruminants medicine, especially in calves. The goals of the replacement of fluids and electrolytes are the correction of present imbalances, the restoration of blood volume and adequate tissue perfusion and the treatment of shock in animals (CONSTABLE, 2003).Fluid and electrolyte replacement can be performed by enteral hydration (EH) or by intravenous infusion (IV). The EH has advantages over IV and should be the modality of choice whenever possible (BERCHTOLD, 2009). It is easier and cheaper, and should be considered equally effective, whenever the gastrointestinal transit is present and dehydration is not marked (CONSTABLE, 2003).Diarrhea is the main disease that affects neonatal calves and can cause mortality due to the imbalances that are installed (SMITH, 2009). Economic losses are related to the death and to additional costs with drugs, labor and veterinary care. When animals survive, the losses occur due to low performance and reduction in the daily body weight gain (MILLEMANN, 2009).In the treatment of diarrheic calves the therapy with oral electrolyte solutions (OES) is the most important measure. The goal is to correct the dehydration, to reverse the hyponatremia and the CLINIC AND SURGERY

Effectiveness of oral electrolyte solutions with different compositions for the treatment of neonatal calves with induced osmotic diarrhea

“…When tested in healthy calves, OES B caused lasting hyperglycemia (Bregadioli et al, 2018). The high concentration of glucose accounts for the higher osmolarity than the other OESs (Bregadioli et al, 2017). The studied calves did not present with hypoglycemia, but this can be an important imbalance in natural cases of diarrhea in calves (Trefz et al, 2017;Tsukano et al, 2018).…”

“…In North American and European countries, the use of OESs is well consolidated, and various products are available on the market (Smith and Berchtold, 2014). In Brazil, few formulations are commercially available (Bregadioli et al, 2017). In addition, there is little scientific information regarding its effects.…”