Abstract
Optimal fluid therapy protocols in neonatal calves and adult cattle are based on consideration of signalment, history, and physical examination findings, and individually tailored whenever laboratory analysis is available. Measurement of the magnitude of eye recession, duration of skin tenting in the lateral neck region, and urine specific gravity by refractometry provide the best estimates of hydration status in calves and cattle. Intravenous and oral electrolyte solutions (OES) are frequently administered to critically ill calves and adult cattle. Application of physicochemical principles indicates that 0.9% NaCl, Ringer's solution, and 5% dextrose are equally acidifying, lactated Ringer's and acetated Ringer's solution are neutral to mildly acidifying, and 1.3–1.4% sodium bicarbonate solutions are strongly alkalinizing in cattle. Four different crystalloid solutions are recommended for intravenous fluid therapy in dehydrated or septic calves and dehydrated adult cattle: (1) lactated Ringer's solution and acetated Ringer's solution for dehydrated calves, although neither solution is optimized for administration to neonatal calves or adult cattle; (2) isotonic (1.3%) or hypertonic (5.0 or 8.4%) solutions of sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of calves with diarrhea and severe strong ion (metabolic) acidosis and hyponatremia, and adult cattle with acute ruminal acidosis; (3) Ringer's solution for the treatment of metabolic alkalosis in dehydrated adult cattle, particularly lactating dairy cattle; and (4) hypertonic NaCl solutions (7.2%) and an oral electrolyte solution or water load for the rapid resuscitation of dehydrated neonatal calves and adult cattle. Much progress has been made since the 1970's in identifying important attributes of an OES for diarrheic calves. Important components of an OES for neonatal calves are osmolality, sodium concentration, the effective SID that reflects the concentration of alkalinizing agents, and the energy content. The last three factors are intimately tied to the OES osmolality and the abomasal emptying rate, and therefore the rate of sodium delivery to the small intestine and ultimately the rate of resuscitation. An important need in fluid and electrolyte therapy for adult ruminants is formulation of a practical, effective, and inexpensive OES.
Highlights
Intravenous solution formulations should be optimized for different species [1] and fluid therapy should be patientcentered and not follow a “one fluid for all” principle [2]
Five abnormalities can concurrently exist in critically ill neonatal calves and adult cattle: (a) free water deficit; (b) abnormal plasma electrolyte concentrations; (c) acid–base abnormalities; (d) plasma osmolality abnormalities; and (e) plasma oncotic pressure imbalances
The results of this study indicated that isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution was superior in rehydrating the calf because it contained more free water, whereas the rapid administration of the hypertonic solution was faster at correcting the acidemia and metabolic acidosis [54]
Summary
Intravenous solution formulations should be optimized for different species [1] and fluid therapy should be patientcentered and not follow a “one fluid for all” principle [2]. Intravenous infusion of a solution with a SID of 40 mmol/L is mildly alkalinizing even though plasma SID remains constant at 40 mmol/L; this is because the addition of free water decreases plasma total protein and albumin concentrations, resulting in a mild increase in plasma pH. The tonicity of intravenous and oral electrolyte solutions is an important clinical issue when treating critically ill neonatal calves and adult cattle, and an understanding of the difference between osmolarity and osmolality is required when selecting the optimal fluid therapy. Bovine erythrocytes are resistant to increases in plasma osmolality but susceptible to mild decreases in osmolality; intravenous fluids administered to cattle should ideally be isotonic or hypertonic because of the potential for hypotonicinduced hemolysis when large volumes of hypotonic solutions are rapidly administered [9]. Lactated Ringer’s solution and acetated Ringer’s solution are not optimally formulated for ruminants and they are not usually adequate for treating neonatal calves or adult cattle with severe acidemia or alkalemia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia or hypochloremia
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