ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY FOR DIARRHEIC CALVES

Calf scours can be caused by a variety of infectious agents. Oral rehy dration therapy solutions are formulated with the objective of correct ing dehydration and acidosis. Currently, oral rehydration therapy does not promote gut healing in calves with diarrhea; however, investigato rs are examining the role of nutrition in promoting gut healing. Many commercial oral rehydration therapy products are available; these prod ucts differ in composition. The most significant differences in produc ts involve the ability to correct acidosis. Knowledge of the pathophys iology of diarrhea and the requirements of diarrheic calves has become more precise; it is therefore possible to evaluate the comparitive ef ficacies of oral rehydration therapy products. Oral rehydration therap y is usually used in valves that are alert enough to drink the solutio n; however, calves with a poor suckle reflex can also benefit from suc h therapy-the electrolyte may gave to be given via stomach tube. Unlik e some newly developed lifesaving treatments, oral rehydration therapy is relatively inexpensive and accessible to farmers. It is the most e ffective for of therapy for mildly or moderately affected diarrheic ca lves. This article reviews current practices in oral rehydration thera py for calves with diarrhea and provides practitioners with recommenda tions for selecting optimum treatments.