The Bagpipe - American Highland Cattle Association

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MANAGEMENT
Extent of treatment should be based upon severity of illness. Calves racing around the pasture, kicking up their
heels, with yellow or white diarrhea probably do not need treatment. Nutritional scours usually will self correct with
time. The four gauges to establish severity of illness are general disposition, appetite, dehydration and body
temperature.
If the calf is weak, depressed or reluctant to move, something generally is wrong. If the calf is not eating, the cow’s
udder will be distended and this is an indication to further observe the calf. Dehydration can be evaluated by pulling
up the skin over the shoulders or the side of the neck. The skin should rebound to its normal position almost instantly.
If the calf is dehydrated, the skin forms a tent and will stay in that tented position for a period of time: the longer the
time, the more severe the dehydration. The inside of the mouth may feel tacky instead of slick or slimy. As dehydration
worsens, the eyeballs sink back into the head and you may notice a gap between the eyeball and the inner lid and urine
output may cease. Normal body temperature should be about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F. Subnormal temperatures
indicate the calf should be warmed, while an elevated body temperature could indicate that systemic antibiotics are
indicated.
Treatment
Early fluid loss
The calf is still standing, the skin tents for less than 4 seconds, the eyes are bright and the oral membranes are
moist or slick. This combination of signs indicated that the calf is less than 5% dehydrated and treatment with oral
electrolytes is indicated. The calf may suck electrolytes from a bottle, although more than likely, you will need to tube
the calf with either a stomach tube or an esophageal feeder. Add several 2 quart feedings of oral electrolytes per day
until scouring slows. Leave the calf on milk, preferably its mother. Old information that suggested taking the
calf off of milk for several days and feeding only electrolyte solution, is wrong. Calves that are fed only
electrolyte solutions with glucose will rapidly lose weight and can die of starvation if the diarrhea lasts for any
substantial amount of time. Separate milk feedings from electrolyte feedings by a minimum of 30 minutes; 2 hours is
probably better.
Moderate fluid loss (7% dehydration)
The calf is dull and lying down but upright, the skin tents for 5 seconds, the eyes are slightly sunken, legs are cold
but the inside of the mouth is warm but sticky. This calf needs 2 quarts of warm, high energy electrolyte solution by
stomach tube or esophageal feeder (it will not have the energy to nurse from a bottle even if it would) immediately
and again in several hours. Keep the calf in a warm area where it can be monitored and continue electrolyte solution
at replacement levels until recovery.
Severe fluid loss (greater than 9% dehydration)
The calf is lying flat, comatose or close to it, the skin stays tented, the eyes are deeply sunken with a big gap
between eyeball and lid, the legs are cold and the inside of the mouth is cold, pale and dry to the touch. This calf is
very close to death and requires intravenous fluids immediately. Oral fluids will not be absorbed quickly enough to
save the calf.
Calculating Fluid Requirements
Enough balanced electrolytes must be given to:
Replace the amount of fluid already lost (correct the dehydration).
Meet the daily requirement for fluid if the calf were not sick (roughly 50 ml per kg of body weight or
25 ml per pound of body weight).
Keep up with the ongoing fluid loss from the diarrhea, which may be 1-4 liters of fluid a day.
For a calf weighing 100 pounds which is about 7% dehydrated:
100# divided by 2.2 #/kg = body weight (BW) in kg
45.45 kg x .07 (% dehydration) = 3.18 kg = 3.18 liters = 3180 ml
45.54 kg x 50 ml (daily requirement per kg of body weight) = 2277 ml = 2.277 liters
1-4 liters/day in ongoing fluid loss to diarrhea (big calf, go with largest amount)
3.18 liters + 2.277 liters + 4 liters = 9.457 liters per day for this calf = about 9 quarts per day
This amount should be force fed in addition to the milk the calf is drinking.