[Infusion therapy in newborn calves with diarrhea from the area of Ankara with special reference to acidosis (part 1)]

Abstract

Characteristic changes (hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis and azotemia) occurred in the blood of 54 calves 1 to 15 days old with diarrhoea. Clinical signs of dehydration were observed. Average values were: Potassium 6.37 mmol/l, pH 7.17, bicarbonate 18.76 mmol/l, base excess (BE)-10.01 mmol/l, urea % 78.2 mg. The amount of 1.3% sodium bicarbonate solution to be given to calves with patent metabolic acidosis was determined according to the following formula: HCO3- (mmol/l = body weight (kg) x 0.5 x BE. In most of the cases with severe metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.0), a good compensating effect was obtained. Infusion treatment brought blood pH and base excess values near to normal, and bicarbonate concentration to within the physiological range. Balanced solutions were used in the regulation of electrolyte-fluid balance. Hematocrit, potassium and urea values, which had been pathologically high, returned to normal following infusion treatment. Apart from this, patients were given symptomatic treatment according to the important clinical findings. Forty-two animals recovered completely after intravenous infusion of buffer and electrolyte solutions. Twelve out the total of 54 animals died within 1-5 days despite infusion treatment.