Neonatal Calf Management

Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center

Percent calves born dead, died, or were lost during 1996

NAHMS Beef ’97 Study

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0Born dead

24 hrs orless

24 hrs –3 wks

3 wks –weaning

2.1

1.1 1.1 1.2

Calf Age and Organism

Organism Approximate Calf Age

E. coli Day 1 (days 1-7)

Rotavirus Day 4-9 (days 1-14 up to 5 wks)

Coronavirus Day 5-9 (days 2-14 up to 6 wks)

Clostridium perfringens Day 1-2 (days 1-7 & weeks 4-6)

Cryptosporidium parvum Day 7-10 (days 7-21)

Salmonella spp. Day 7-21 (day 7 through 4 mo.)

Coccidia Day 21 and up

Most of the time it is a mixed infection!

Disease prevention

Disease prevention

Animal-nutrition, immune

system, etc.

Environment-temperature, mud,

etc.

Agent- virulence,

exposure, etc.

Increase resistance

Prevent transmission

Remove agent

Prevention

• Recreate early calving season conditions– “Clean” calving area– Absence of older calves

• Goal: Reduce/prevent transmission

Weeks 1&2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

PathogenesisDiarrhea

Dehydration and Lactic Acidosis

Hypovolemic Shock

Decreased Profusion

Ischemic Damage of Multiple Organs

Translocation of Enteric Bacteria

Septicemic Shock

Death

Treatment of Neonatal Diarrhea

• Dehydration• Acid/Base Imbalance• Electrolyte Abnormalities• Hypoglycemia• Ancillary treatments– Antibiotics– NSAID’s

Rehydration Therapy

RouteVolumeCompositionDuration ?

% Dehydration

EyeballStatus

Skin Tent (in seconds)

Mucus membranes

0 None <1 Moist

1-5 None to Slight 1-4 Moist

6-8 Slight Separation

5-10 Tacky

9-10 <5 mm gap 11-15 Tacky to dry

11-12 5-10 mm gap 16-45 Dry

Compiled from Howard, Smith, Blood et. al.

Daily Fluid Requirement:

• Replacement = % dehydration x body wt.

• Maintenance = 50 mL/kg/day or

1mL/#/hr

• Estimated loss to diarrhea = 1-4 L/day

Acid-Base Assessment

Lateral recumbency 4 10 4Lateral recumbency 20

Sternal recumbency 3 10 Sternal recumbency 3 15

Standing, weak suckle 2 5 Standing, weak suckle 2 10

Standing, good suckle 1 0 Standing, good suckle 1 5

Demeanor Score (< 8 days of age)

Base Deficit (Meq)

Demeanor Score (> 8 days of age)

Base Deficit (Meq)

Naylor

Electrolytes and Energy

• Serum Chemistry– Potassium• Hyperkalemia• Total body depletion of K

– Sodium – normal to low normal– Chloride – normal to low normal

• Negative energy balance– Hypoglycemia– Do not give oral table sugar (sucrose)

5 gms 15 gms 15 gms

In 2 liters of water with 50 ml of 50% dextrose solution….

Intravenous Fluid Therapy Options

• 0.9% Saline• Ringer’s solution• Lactated Ringer’s solution• Isotonic sodium bicarbonate• Supplemental 5% Bicarb• Others

Calculation of Replacement Bicarbonate

• Normal venous blood pH = 7.34• Normal serum bicarbonate values for calves = 30

mmol/L with a base excess of 5 mmol/L• Constant for volume of distribution= 0.6• Body wt in kg X (30-TCO2) X 0.6 = mEq of bicarb needed• Acid-base correction – HCO3- or bicarb equivalent like

acetate, citrate, or L-lactate• Commercial sources of Bicarb

• 8.4% - supplies 1mEq/ml• 5% - supplies 0.6mEq/ml

Other Intravenous Fluid Considerations

• Ion replacement – Na+, K+, Cl-

– 20-40 mEq/liter of fluids– Do not exceed 0.5 mEq/kg/hour

• Energy maintenance

Ancillary Tx

• Antimicrobials– Bacteremia– Control intercurrent infections– Prevent iatrogenic infections

• Flunixin meglumine– Correct dehydration first!

Questions?