Clinical and laboratory assessment of hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea

Peter D. Constable From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.

Search for other papers by Peter D. Constable in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 BVSc, PhD
,
Pamela G. Walker From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.

Search for other papers by Pamela G. Walker in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Dawn E. Morin From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.

Search for other papers by Dawn E. Morin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM, MS
, and
Jonathan H. Foreman From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.

Search for other papers by Jonathan H. Foreman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM, MS

Objective

To develop accurate, objective guidelines for assessing hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea.

Design

Prospective study.

Animals

15 male dairy calves 3 to 10 days old.

Procedure

Dehydration and diarrhea were induced by administration of diuretic agents (ie, furosemide, spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide) and sucrose solution. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between potentially useful factors for evaluating hydration status (extent of enophthalmos; skin-tent duration on neck, thorax, and upper and lower eyelids; heart rate; mean central venous pressure; peripheral [extremity] and core [rectal] temperatures; core-peripheral [rectal-extremity] temperature difference; PCV; and hemoglobin and plasma protein concentrations) and degree of dehydration, as determined by change in body weight.

Results

Best predictors of degree of dehydration were extent of enophthalmos, skin elasticity on neck and thorax, and plasma protein concentration.

Clinical Implications

These experimentally determined guidelines provide practitioners with a simple, inexpensive, and practical method for evaluating hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998;212:991–996)

Objective

To develop accurate, objective guidelines for assessing hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea.

Design

Prospective study.

Animals

15 male dairy calves 3 to 10 days old.

Procedure

Dehydration and diarrhea were induced by administration of diuretic agents (ie, furosemide, spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide) and sucrose solution. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between potentially useful factors for evaluating hydration status (extent of enophthalmos; skin-tent duration on neck, thorax, and upper and lower eyelids; heart rate; mean central venous pressure; peripheral [extremity] and core [rectal] temperatures; core-peripheral [rectal-extremity] temperature difference; PCV; and hemoglobin and plasma protein concentrations) and degree of dehydration, as determined by change in body weight.

Results

Best predictors of degree of dehydration were extent of enophthalmos, skin elasticity on neck and thorax, and plasma protein concentration.

Clinical Implications

These experimentally determined guidelines provide practitioners with a simple, inexpensive, and practical method for evaluating hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998;212:991–996)

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 1373 1302 111
PDF Downloads 413 347 35
Advertisement