Treatment of calf diarrhea: intravenous fluid therapy

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2009 Mar;25(1):73-99, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2008.10.001.

Abstract

Severely dehydrated calves that are unable to suckle need intravenous fluids for effective resuscitation. Intravenous fluid therapy is also indicated for sick calves without obvious dehydration, such as calves with strong ion acidosis, ruminal acidosis (rumen drinkers), severe pneumonia, septicemia, or hypothermia. This article presents an updated overview of intravenous fluid therapy for calves, recent insights into the development of metabolic acidosis in young calves resulting from accumulation of D-lactate, a simplified algorithm for intravenous fluid therapy, and a procedure for ear vein catheterization under field conditions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / mortality
  • Cattle Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cattle Diseases / therapy*
  • Dehydration / therapy
  • Dehydration / veterinary*
  • Diarrhea / mortality
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Diarrhea / therapy
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Fluid Therapy / instrumentation
  • Fluid Therapy / methods
  • Fluid Therapy / veterinary*
  • Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
  • Male
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / therapy
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / veterinary*