Clinical and laboratory assessment of hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea.
OBJECTIVE
To develop accurate, objective guidelines for assessing hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
15 male dairy calves 3 to 10 days old.


METHODS
Dehydration and diarrhea were induced by administration of diuretic agents (i.e., furosemide, spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide) and sucrose solution. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between potentially useful factors for evaluating hydration status (extent of enophthalmos; skin-tent duration on neck, thorax, and upper and lower eyelids; heart rate; mean central venous pressure; peripheral [extremity] and core [rectal] temperatures; core-peripheral [rectal-extremity] temperature difference; PCV; and hemoglobin and plasma protein concentrations) and degree of dehydration, as determined by change in body weight.


RESULTS
Best predictors of degree of dehydration were extent of enophthalmos, skin elasticity on neck and thorax, and plasma protein concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
These experimentally determined guidelines provide practitioners with a simple, inexpensive, and practical method for evaluating hydration status of neonatal calves with diarrhea.
Constable
P D
PD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802, USA.
Walker
P G
PG
Morin
D E
DE
Foreman
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004548:Elasticity; D015841:Enophthalmos / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects
D004232:Diuretics; D013395:Sucrose