Intravenous hypertonic saline solution (7.5%) and oral electrolytes to treat of calves with noninfectious diarrhea and metabolic acidosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of treating osmotic diarrhea and dehydration in calves with hypertonic saline solution (HSS) IV, isotonic electrolyte solution (IES) PO, and a combination of these 2 solutions (HSS + IES). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eighteen male calves 8-30 days of age were used to evaluate the efficacy of 3 methods of fluid therapy after induction of osmotic diarrhea and dehydration. The diarrhea and dehydration were induced by administration of saccharose, spironolactone, and hydrochlorothiazide for 48 hours. The animals were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups: Group 1: 7.2% hypertonic saline solution-HSS (5 mL/kg IV); Group 2: oral isotonic electrolyte solution IES (60 mL/kg PO); or Group 3: HSS+IES. Clinical signs and laboratory finding observed 48 hours post-induction (Time 0) included diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, and metabolic acidosis. RESULTS: Calves treated with HSS + IES experienced decreases in hematocrit, total protein concentration, albumin concentration, urea nitrogen concentration, and plasma volume as well as increases in blood pH, blood bicarbonate concentration, and central venous pressure between 1 and 3 hours post-treatment. These findings also were observed in animals treated with IES, however, at a slower rate than in the HSS + IES-treated animals. Animals treated with HSS continued to display signs of dehydration, lethargy, and metabolic acidosis 24 hours post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment with a combination of HSS and IES produced rapid and sustainable correction of hypovolemia and metabolic acidosis in calves with noninfections diarrhea and dehydration.

Pressão venosa central em bezerros neonatos hígidos / Central venous pressure in healthy newborn calves

Com o propósito de estabelecer valores-padrão da pressão venosa central (PVC), utilizaram-se 24 bezerros sadios, da raça Holandesa, com idade entre oito e 30 dias, e peso entre 37 e 50kg. A PVC foi medida, no átrio direito, com uso de cateter intravenoso e equipo próprio usando-se como via de acesso a veia jugular esquerda. O átrio direito foi considerado o ponto zero de referência para as leituras, estando topograficamente em correspondência externa à articulação escapuloumeral no animal em estação e à região do esterno, quando em decúbito lateral direito. Estabeleceram-se os valores médios da PVC, em centímetros de água, de 0,81±1,40 e 0,88±1,76, respectivamente, nos animais em estação e em decúbito lateral, e não houve diferença estatística entre os valores. A metodologia empregada para mensurar a PVC de bezerros revelou-se segura e exeqüível, não necessitando de aparelhagem sofisticada para a sua determinação.

With the aim of determining the central venous pressure (CVP) standard values, twenty-four healthy Holstein calves, aging 8-to-30 days and weighing from 37 to 50kg, were studied. To measure CVP, a specific intravenous catheter was inserted in the right atrium through the left jugular vein. The right atrium was the reference mark (zero) for the measurements, topographically in external correspondence to the scapulohumeral joint, when the animal was standing; and to the sternum region, when the animal was in right lateral recumbency. It was measured a mean CVP, in centimetres of H2O - 0.81±1.40 for animals in standing position, and 0.88±1.76 for animals in lateral recumbency - with no statistical difference between those values. The technique used for measuring CVP in calves was determined to be feasible and do not require sophisticated devices.