Pathophysiology + Treatment of calf diarrhoea

Question 1

What are the different pathophysiology of diarrhoea? (What can diarrhoea lead to)

Answer 1

• Dehydration / hypovolaemia = pre-renal failure + shock
• Metabolic acidosis - loss of HCO3
• Hyperkalaemia - secondary to acidosis
• Hypoglycaemia - starvation

Question 2

What are signs of fluid loss?

Answer 2

*Demeanour
*Eyeball recession
*Skin tent
*Increase in TP

Question 3

What lab tests can diagnose acid-base disturbances?

Answer 3

*Blood gas machine - pH, pCO2
*pH meter

Question 4

What needs to be corrected with calf diarrhoea?

Answer 4

*Hypovolaemia
*Metabolic acidosis (+hyperkalaemia)
*Hypoglycaemia
*Pre-renal failure

Question 5

What are requirements of electrolyte solutions?

Answer 5

*Supply sufficient sodium to normalise the ECF volume
*Provide substances (glucose) that facilitate absorption of sodium + water
*Provide alkalizing agent to correct acidosis
*Provide energy

Question 6

When should you give fluids?

Answer 6

*As soon as scour starts

Question 7

What are advantages / disadvantages of fluid therapy?

Answer 7

*Pro’s = feed calf, feeds the gut mucosa
*Cons = may worsen diarrhoea + acidosis

Question 8

What calves would you give IVFT to?

Answer 8

• Calves unable to stand
• Severely acidotic but minimally dehydrated calves
• Calves failing to improve despite oral fluids
• Very severely dehydrated calves even if standing

Question 9

What are the different fluids?

Answer 9

• Volume expanding fluids - isotonic = Plasma-like, NaCl, NaHCO3
• Hypertonic solutions - Sodium bicarbonate, Saline
• Dextrose = source of energy
• Colloids - not used in farm species