REHYDRATION THERAPY FOR CALF

Diarrhoea-related dehydration of calf is the most important indication for therapeutic infusion. A 1:1 mixture of isoionic and isotonic whole-electrolyte solution with six-percent dextrane solution, amounting to one sixth of the calculated extracellular compartment deficit, should be used to stabilize circulation in animals with strongly pronounced hypovolaemia. This would have to be followed by eight hours of continuous intravenous drip, using isotonic and iso-ionic whole-electrolyte solution. The infusion volume should be equivalent to 50 percent of the calculated extracellular compartment deficit. Infusion rates should be between 7 ml/kg B. W. and 10 ml/kg per hour Additional reference is made in this paper to other variants of rehydration (solution according to Roussel and Kasari, rehydration solution according to Tromp). Six to eight hours should be allowed to pass from clearly discernible clinical improvement, before treatment is continued by oral administration of electrolyte solutions. In case of no recordable clinical improvement infusion should be continued at a rate of 5 ml/kg/hr.