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Amount of
Electrolyte Solution Required To Rehydrate Scouring Calves
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Merrick's Dairy Technical Specialist The amount and timing of electrolyte replacement therapy is critical for rapid recovery from dehydration. A common mistake is waiting too long before administering electrolyte solutions to affected calves. Giving fluids too little, too late allows progressive fluid loss. As a result, the calf's condition continues to deteriorate. Most calves that die of scours usually die from loss of water and electrolytes, not from direct action of pathogenic organisms. The focus of any treatment plan should be on replacing lost fluids. Good candidates for oral rehydration therapy are those calves that can stand and suckle. Weak calves with a poor suckle reflex may need to be tube-fed. Calves that have lost the suckle reflex and are recumbent and unable to rise, are poor candidates for oral rehydration therapy. Subcutaneous and/or intravenous infusions are indicated in more advanced stages of dehydration. The calf's ability to recover declines as the severity of dehydration increases. The amount of supplemental fluid a calf needs each day depends on its rate of dehydration. Instructions provided on electrolyte packaging are general and do not describe the appropriate course of action for all situations. It would be a daunting task to develop specific instructions for all scours scenarios. Fortunately, there are a few basic concepts that can help ensure each calf receives appropriate treatment. Table 1 shows the minimum amount of electrolyte solution required daily by a 100# calf. The amount of fluid indicated at each level is the amount of electrolyte solution that needs to be fed in addition to regular milk replacer feedings. Substituting electrolyte feeding for milk replacer feeding does nothing to correct the fluid loss.  Consider a 100 lb calf that is scouring, but shows no other clinical signs. The calf is alert and attentive and has a strong suckle reflex. We can assume the calf has lost about 5% of its body weight due to diarrhea. For this calf, a 5% weight loss equals 5 pounds. If a gallon of water weighs 8 lb, each quart weighs 2 lb and each pint weighs 1 pound. Therefore, this calf has lost 5 pints or 2½ qt of water. Since absorption in the digestive tract is not likely to be 100%, the calf should receive at least 3 qt of electrolyte solution daily while scouring. This brings up an interesting point. If absorption of an electrolyte solution in a scouring calf is less than 100%, what happens to the solution that isn't absorbed? Obviously it goes out the back end of the calf. By adding to the calf's fecal water loss, corrective therapy may actually make the situation appear to be worsening even though the treatment is effective. Table 2 shows the electrolyte solution requirements of 60 and 80 lb calves. A 5% weight loss is about 3 lb and 4 lb respectively. In this case the 60 lb calf requires a minimum of 1½ quart while the 80 lb calf needs a minimum to 2 quarts of electrolyte solution to replace the water lost through diarrhea.  The electrolyte solution requirements presented in Tables 1 and 2 are daily totals for replacing the water and electrolytes lost through scours. The severity and duration of water loss depend on many factors with episodes ranging for 1 or 2 days to over one week. Electrolyte therapy should be tailored to each situation with treatment continuing until diarrhea subsides. It is perhaps more important to pay attention to the front end of the calf rather than the back end. The calf's attitude, activity and aggressiveness at feeding time are primary indicators of recovery and treatment success. The scouring end eventually follows. Electrolyte solutions should be fed between milk replacer feedings at least two hours after the milk replacer. This routine provides a more even distribution of liquid consumption throughout the day. A properly formulated electrolyte solution is designed to maximize the absorption and utilization of both the ingredients and water.  
A Subsidiary of Merrick Animal Nutrition, Inc. 2415 Parview Road * P.O. Box 620307 * Middleton, WI 53562-0307 USA 1-608-831-3440 * 1-800-MER-RICK (637-7425) FAX: 1-608-836-8943 Email us at: mersales@merricks.com |