Fluid Therapy in Food Animals

Question 1

What are 5 important questions when administering fluid therapy?

Answer 1

1. Does the case need fluids? Dose the case need your intervention?
2. What type of therapy of fluids does this case need?
3. What route of administration is best for this case? (>95% oral with active rumen)
4. How much should be administered? (1200 lb cow gets around 10-12 gallons orally)
5. How fast should the solution be administered? (critical for neonates and smaller livestock)

Question 2

What happens if fluids are administered too fast?

Answer 2

pulmonary edema –> death

Question 3

What are 3 common cases that are not typically dehydrated?

Answer 3

1. cow with LDA
2. calf with diarrhea
3. emaciation –> looks dehydrated

Question 4

How is dehydration assessed in ruminants? What are the 2 most common causes of shock in ruminants?

Answer 4

assess skin tend on the neck and eyelid (young), may be a gap between the lower eyelid and the cornea

acute blood loss and hydrops

Question 5

When can dehydration be detected?

Answer 5

@ 5%

Question 6

What fluids should be available for large animal cases?

Answer 6

• LRS (alkalinizing)
• normal saline
• 1.3% NaHCO3
• hypertonic saline (7.2% NaCl)
• 8% NaHCO3
• 23% calcium gluconate
• CMPK
• distilled water + electrolyte salts (NaCl, KCl) or calf electrolyte powders

Question 7

When are esophageal feeds used for dehydration cases?

Answer 7

calf diarrhea cases that are <8% dehydrated or still standing –> rumen must be working well

(>8% - IV preferred for quick absorption)

Question 8

What is the best type of fluid used for ruminal acidosis? What else can be used?

Answer 8

(pH < 7.20) - IV 1.3/8.4% NaHCO3

LRS - also alkalinizing

Question 9

What are 5 causes of acidosis in adult cattle?

Answer 9

1. ruminal acidosis - grain overload
2. urinary tract disease
3. SI obstruction
4. diarrhea
5. loss of bicarbonate by choke, listeriosis, botulism, or anything that prevents swallowing

Question 10

Are cattle with displaced abomasum acidodic or alkalotic What fluids should be used?

Answer 10

alkalotic (>7.45) –> IV Ringer’s solution or normal saline

• Cl in the solutions acidified the ECF, helping to move K back into the cells

Question 11

What cattle are most commonly alkalotic?

Answer 11

mature cattle –> dehydrated or GI disease

Question 12

What fluids should not be mixed?

Answer 12

IV bicarbonate and calcium –> precipitates out

(not as important for oral fluids)

Question 13

When is hypertonic saline most commonly used? What needs to be used with it?

Answer 13

• rapid resuscitation
• assist drawing fluid back into the vascular system with high % of dehydration

oral fluids –> do not expect cattle to drink on their own

Question 14

How us hyponatremia and hypernatremia treated?

Answer 14

add 2 handfuls of NaCl and a handful of KCl to oral fluids –> hyponatremic patients are typically also low in K and Cl

associated with water restriction or salt intoxication –> give hydration and limit NaCl

Question 15

When do oral mixtures of fluids work best?

Answer 15

in non-emergency situations where the rumen is still functioning properly –> simplest and cheapest method

(use a Magrath pump)

Question 16

What are the 2 best situations to use IV fluids?

Answer 16

1. emergencies where rapid absorption is needed
2. convenience - when multiple treatments are needed to also go IV, like Banamine, antibiotics, dextrose, etc.

Question 17

When are SQ and IP fluids most commonly used in ruminants?

Answer 17

small volumes (supplemental Ca) –> NOT large fluid deficits

neonatal small ruminants and piglets

Question 18

Why is alfalfa meal commonly added to oral fluids?

Answer 18

cow is likely not eating well, supports ruminal flora

Question 19

What should be administered as an oral fluid to begin with? What can be added?

Answer 19

water and electrolytes ONLY –> least damaging if gets into trachea

• yeast
• alfalfa meal
• rumen transfaunation
• mineral oil

Question 20

How is a fluid deficit calculated? Calculate the deficit in a 450 kg cow that is 10% dehydrated?

Answer 20

BW x % dehydrated = fluid deficit

450 kg x .1 = 45 L

Question 21

How much IV fluids can a mature bovine take at once?

Answer 21

18-20 L of fluid IV as fast as it will go with a 14g catheter

• after it reaches this amount, decide if IV is still necessary and switch to oral fluids
• goal is to get the animal drinking enough to meed their needs

Question 22

If an 83lb calf is 8% dehydrated, how many liters should be used to replace the fluid deficit?

Answer 22

83lb/2.2 = 38 kg
38kg x .08 = 3 L –> start as fast as it will go, then slow down to avoid pulmonary edema

Question 23

A 100 lb goat is 7% dehydrated. What is the fluid deficit? How about a 4 lb kid?

Answer 23

100lb/2.2 = 45 kg
45kg x .07 = 3.2 L

4lb/2.2 = 1.8 kg
1.8kg x .07 = 0.13 L

Question 24

What maintenance fluid rates are recommended for small ruminants?

Answer 24

1-2 mL/lb/hr OR 50 mL/kg/day

Question 25

Calculate the maintenance fluids for a comatose 200lb ewe.

Answer 25

1 mL/lb/hr x 200lb = 200 mL/hr

50 mL/kg/d x 91kg x 1day/24 hr = 190 mL/hr

(1L every 5 hours)

Question 26

What are some options for adding in K and Ca to bulk fluids?

Answer 26

• ~10-20 mEq/L K
• 1-2 g KCl per liter of solution
• 500 mL of Ca per 18-20 L of fluid –> diluted, less likely to cause heart issues

Question 27

How fast should a neonate’s fluid deficit be corrected?

Answer 27

correct the imbalance for the first 4-6 hours and maintenance fluids over 2-4 days

• 80 mL/kg for severe cases
• 50 mL/kg is safer

Question 28

While a neonate fluid deficit is being corrected, what should be observed for?

Answer 28

• overhydration
• moist cough
• tachypnea
• relapse into comatose state
• lung edema!!

Question 29

What is the best way to correct acidosis on neonates and adults?

Answer 29

BW x base deficit x 0.6 = mEq bicarbonate

WB x base deficit x 0.3 = mEq bicarbonate

(1cc = 1 g = 12 mEq Na and bicarb)

Question 30

What types of fluids doses are recommended for intraperitoneal administration? What equipment is used? Where is the needle inserted?

Answer 30

10 mL/kg 20% glucose

1 inch, 20 g needle

scrub 2 cm behind navel and 1 cm to the side, aiming toward the rump

Question 31

A 10 kg alpine goat presented with 9% dehydration due to profuse watery diarrhea.

• Does it need fluids?
• What route?
• Suspected acid-base status?
• What type of fluids?
• Replacement amount?

Answer 31

yes

IV, can do oral if rumen is functioning normally

acidosis

bicarbonate

10 x .09 = 0.9 L