Calf Diarrhea Flashcards
What is the difference between early, delayed, and late postnatal disease? What are common causes of each?
EARLY = within 48 hours, malnutrition, hypothermia
DELAYED = within 2-7 days, infection (colibacillosis)
LATE = within 1-4 weeks, enterotoxemia
What 3 things in calves should be checked for at each feeding? What diagnostics are recommended?
- abnormal appearance - dull, depressed, weak, unwilling to stand, ears/head down, sunken eyes
- appetite - unwilling to drink, weak suckle
- abnormal feces - scours
rectal temp, hydration (sunken eyes, dry mouth, cold extremities, no suckling), RR and effort
How is scours treated?
MILD - oral electrolytes BID between milk feedings for 2-3 days
MODERATE/SEVERE - IV fluids and electrolytes, antibiotics, antiinflammatories
How is pneumonia treated?
MILD - antibiotics
MODERATE/SEVERE - antibiotics, antiinflammatories, supportive therapy
What factors from the mother, calf, and environment predispose a calf to developing disease?
MOTHER - parasitism, mastitis, nutrition, dystocia, breed and species variations, vaccination
CALF - umbilical cord infection, passive immunity (colostrum), rearing, overfeeding, time of weaning
ENVIRONMENT - herd size, improper building, over-crowding, poor sanitation, poor ventilation, high humidity, exposure to hot or cold extremes
What is the most common cause of death in young calves? When is risk of development highest? In what calves is this most common?
diarrhea –> dehydration, electrolyte loss (K, bicarb, Na) –> preventable with good management!
birth to 1 month old
housed calves in the winter
What is the pathogenesis of calf diarrhea? What 3 things does this result in? What causes death?
loss of large amonts of water and electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, bicarb)
- hemoconcentration –> hypovolemia –> organ dysfunction
- loss of Na, K –> muscle and cardiac weakness
- loss of bicarb –> acidemia
acidosis and dehydration
How does diarrhea typically develop in calves?
- production of thin, watery feces
- signs of dehydration appear - sunken eyes, dry MM, rough hair
- calf extremities become cold
- loss of appetite
- difficulty getting up
- unable to rise
- loss of consciousness
Pathogenesis of diarrhea based on cause:
What 4 things should be observed for in cases of scours?
check the calf, NOT the feces
- appetite
- temperature
- condition - standing, recumbent
- dehydration
What is the purpose of colostrum in preventing calf diarrhea?
provides passive immunity to protect calves for a month after birth
What 3 things does the transfer of maternal immunoglobulins to calves depend on?
- formation of colostrum with high enough concentrations of Ig
- ingestion of an adequate volume of colostrum by the calf
- efficient absorption of colostral Ig by the calf
What are 7 common causes of poor colostrum quality/quantity?
- first lactation heifers
- breed
- premilking or premature lactation
- premature parturition or shortened dry period
- delay in obtaining first milking colostrum
- larger volume of colostrum produced dilute Ig
- poor colostral handling –> pooling, repeated freezing and thawing
What are 4 possible causes of colostrum ingestion failure?
- poor udder or teat conformation / poor mothering
- maternal periparturient disease (milk fever)
- poor neonatal vigor
- congenital musculoskeletal abnormalities
What are 6 causes of colostral absorption failure?
- neonatal asphyxia (dystocia)
- improper method of feeding - natural suckling > bottle feeding
- extremes in environmental temperatures
- dam absence
- immature GIT
- genetic variation in Ig efficiency
What is calf scour?
increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion
- may contain blood or mucous or be foul smelling
What are the most common symptoms associated with calf scours?
- loss of appetite
- cold limbs and ears
- dry mouth
- urine drop or stops
- skeletal muscle affected –> recumbency
- CNS signs
- death
What are the 3 major metabolic effects of calf scour?
- dehydration
- acidosis
- electrolyte imbalances
What are the 4 major bacterial causes of calf scour?
- E. coli*
- Salmonella spp*
- Clostridium perfringens Type A or C + sordelli
- Campylobacter fecalis + coli + jejuni
What are the 3 major parasitic causes of calf scour?
- Cryptosporidiasis*
- Coccidiosis
- Ascariasis
What are the 7 major viral causes of calf scour?
- Rotavirus*
- Coronavirus*
- BVD
- Calicivirus
- Bredavirus
- Parvovirus
- Astrovirus
Age of occurrence of enteropathogens in calves:
What is the most common cause of newborn calf diarrhea? What is the course of disease like? What is critical to survival?
enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
rapid - weakness –> diarrhea –> dehydration –> death within 24 hours
fluid support (antibiotics rarely affect outcome)
How is ETEC infection eliminated from a herd?
vaccination of dry cows and good colostrum
When does infection with Salmonella occur? What kind of diarrhea is associated? What other disease can it cause?
5-14 days old
bloody, casts of intestines
pneumonia
What treatment is required for Salmonella diarrhea? Which species is associated with permanent carrier/shedding status?
fluids + antibiotics to prevent bacteremia (ZOONOTIC, keep children and immunocompromised away)
Salmonella dublin
Which type of Clostridium causes diarrhea? What signs are associated? What is characteristic on postmortem exam?
Type C
- sudden onset of weakness and death
- colic or CNS signs seen before death
hemorrhage in the intestines
When does Rotavirus diarrhea typically occur?
3-7 days –> colostrum typically protects calves for up to 4 days
- infection is typically short-lived, but intestinal lining takes time to recover
How does Coronavirus diarrhea compare to Rotavirus? What does it cause in adult cattle?
intestinal lining damage is more severe
winter dysentery
What causes cryptosporidiasis in calves? When are they typically infected? Which are most susceptible?
Cryptosporidium parvum
infected at birth, develop diarrhea within 5-7 days of age –> organisms seen on fecal smear!
stressed
What 2 species cause coccidiosis? What calves are considered at risk?
- Eimeria bovis
- Eimeria zuernil
calves between 7 days to 6 months old
What 4 treatments are recommended in calves with coccidiosis?
- Amprolium
- Decoquinate
- Lasalocid
- Monensin
stop development or kill organism –> difficult to treat once calves develop diarrhea
Coccidiosis vs Cryptosporodiosis:
How does the type of diarrhea caused by Coccidiosis and Cryptosporidiosis compare? How are they diagnosed?
COCCIDOSIS - bloody (dysentery), anemia, nervous signs –> flotation
CRYPTO - yellow, pale, watery diarrhea, decreased food intake, dehydration –> stained fecal smear
How is Cryptosporidiosis treated?
not commonly effective –> Halofunginone can reduce oocyst output
Coccidiosis treatments vs preventatives:
What are 5 nutritional causes of diarrhea in calves?
- drinking excessive amount of milk
- overeating
- sudden change from whole milk to replaces
- poor quality colostrum
- plant or fungal toxins
What are the 4 levels of dehydration? What signs are seen?
- 5-6% = no clinical signs
- 6-8% = sunken eyes, loss of skin turgor, dry mouth
- 8-10% = weight loss, sunken eyes, drym MM, increased pulses
- 10-14% = comatose, cool extremities, poor peripheral pulses
How can body temperature help differentiate etiologies of diarrhea?
NORMAL = nutritional, parasitic, differentiated by fecal exams
HIGH = infectious
What is a common postmortem finding in cases of diarrhea in calves?
dark red, ichemic necrosis + gas-filled intestines
What 3 selective media are recommended for diagnosing the cause of diarrhea?
- McConkey - E. coli
- Selenit F or Tetrathionate broth - Salmonella
- virus isolation on cell culture using fecal filtrate or tissue suspension
How are serologic and fecal examinations used to diagnose causes of diarrhea?
SEROLOGY - Salmonella (ELISA, agglutination tests, CFT)
FECAL - Rotavirus, Coronavirus
What hematological changes are seen in cases of diarrhea?
- leukopenia
- neutropenia
- hypoerkalemia
What are the 5 goals of treating diarrhea?
- temporary withdrawal of diet
- remove causative agents - anthelmintics, antibiotics
- replace fluid and electrolyte losses
- intestinal protectants (antacids) and adsorbents
- anti-diarrheal drugs - inhibit secretion and control intestinal hypermobility
+/- Ig therapy, probiotics
What 4 things contribute to success in diarrhea treatment?
- correct diagnosis
- drug used
- dose of drug
- treatment duration
Should calves with diarrhea still be fed milk? How should feeding be altered if fluids are given?
debatable - unlikely to negatively affect outcome, withholding milk over a long period can result in calf death or starvation
bicarbonate-containing oral fluids should be given at least 30-60 mins after milk to minimize disruption milk digestion
What gut protectants/adsorbents are used in calves with diarrhea?
- Kaolin-Pectin - can improve character of the stool, not shown to improve fluid and electrolytes
- Bismuth salts
Why is a warm water bath recommended for calves with diarrhea?
hypothermia is a significant problem in diarrheic calves
+/- warmed oral/IV fluids
Why are probiotics recommended in cases of diarrhea? What strains of bacteria are found?
supplement the intestinal flora with viable beneficial bacteria –> creates unfavorable conditions of the growth of enteropathogens, reduces occurrence of scours
Lactobacillus + Streptococcus –> 10^8-10^9 CFU/calf/day
How are immunoglobulins supplemented in calves with diarrhea?
IgY prepared in egg yolks –> immunotherapy or prophylactic
What are important parts of supportive therapy in cases of diarrhea?
- astringents
- adsorbents (antidiarrhea)
- parasympatholoytics and spasmolytics to counteract hyperperistaltic movement of intestine
What are 4 objective to fluid therapy in calves with diarrhea?
- correct dehydration
- correct acid/base abnormalities
- correct electrolyte abnormalities
- provide energy
What are 5 options of fluids for treating dehydration in calves?
- normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
- Ringer solution
- LRS
- isotonic Na bicarbonate (1.5-2.5%)
- glucose/dextrose (5%)
What kind of fluids should bicarbonate not be added to? What is it the best treatment for?
those containing calcium (LRS) –> precipitate forms
(can be added to normal salines)
severe dehydration + metabolic acidosis
What is the most important ingredient in oral rehydration solutions? When is this method of administration recommended?
water
- <8% dehydrated
- alert, mildly depressed
- still standing
- suckle reflex present
What are 4 options for IV fluid therapy? What rate is recommended?
- 2 L Na bicarboante
- 1 L 0.9% NaCl
- 1 L glucose 5%
- 1 L LRS or acetate
2 L/hr for the first hour, then 1 L/hr until dehydration is corrected
What fluids are able to be given SQ?
oral isotonic solutions NOT containing glucose
- not an option for IV fluids
Why should potassium and chloride be added to fluids given to calves with diarrhea?
K maintains fluid balance and is involved in nerve function and muscular contraction, particularly in the heart
Cl maintains blood pH and is necessary for metabolism
What systemic anti-acid is recommended in cases of diarrhea? How does the age of the calf alter amount given?
sodium bicarbonate (1.3%)
- <8 days = 1 L
- > 8 days = 2 L if in sternal recumbency, 3 L if laterally recumbent
What rate of administration is recommended in calves with moderate dehydration?
(6-8%)
- 50 mL/kg in the first 1-2 hours, then 50-80 mL/kg/hr
- maintenance = 140 mL/kg for 8-10 hours, then 20 mL/kg/hr
At what point in dehydration will calves become eternally recumbent? What rate of administration is recommended?
10%
- % dehdyration x BW for 1-2 hours
- 100 mL/kg for 1-2 hours, then 50-80 mL/kg/hr
- maintenance = 140 mL/kg for 8-10 hours, then 20 mL/kg/hr
If a 40 kg calf is 10% dehydration, what is the fluid loss? What maintenance dose is recommended? Total dose in 24 hours?
40 x .1 = 4 L
140 x 40 = 6.4 L
4 + 6.4 = 10.4 L –> given in 4-6 intervals
In what situations is prognosis particularly bad in cases of diarrhea?
lateral recumbency + hypothermia
What NSAIDs are recommended in calves with diarrhea? When are they able to be give? What are 4 advantages?
Finadyne, Tolfen, Keto 5%, Metacam, Decloflam
after calf is hydrated
- anti-inflammatory
- strong analgesics
- antipyretics
- anti-endotoxic
What antibacterials are typically more effective against E. coli and Salmonella?
- Nuflor
- Florfenicol
- Cephalosporins
- Borgal - Sulfa + Trimethoprim
How is calf diarrhea controlled?
reduce exposure of newborn calves
- proper housing and management of calves and dams
- provide maximum nonspecific resistance - optimal nutrition, colostrum, immunoglobulins, decrease stress (housing, ventilation)
- increase specific resistance - vaccinate calf or dam against colibacillosis
All of the following control the success of calf diarrhea treatment except….
a. correct diagnosis
b. type and dose of therapeutic drugs
c. causative agent
d. weight of calf
D
Which of the following should be the top approach to saving calves suffering from severe bacterial diarrhea?
a. fluid therapy
b. broad spectrum antibiotics
c. anthelmintics
d. NSAIDs
A
Which of the following is NOT a cause of calf diarrhea?
a. E. coli
b. Staph. aureus
c. Salmonella
d. Eimeria bovis
B
