Dehydration in calves

- Clinical signs of dehydration

·       Hypothermia 35-38°C is borderline hypothermia, and anything below 35°C is considered severe hypothermia. Severe hypothermia will not be remedied by placing the calf in a hot box alone; you must gradually warm them from the inside out through feeding warm fluids. When dealing with severe cases, it is important to involve your veterinarian.

·       cold skin and extremities

·       Wrinkled skin

·       Unable to stand

·       Decreased or Loss of suckling reflex

·       Lethargy and dullness

·       Decreased demeanour (reaction to feeding and stimulation).

Samples and Laboratory changes in dehydration

·       Whole blood samples on EDTA can be collected to measure PCV (increase in the packed cell volume)

·       Serum can be used to determine the total protein: and total serum protein concentration is elevated in dehydrated calves.

·       Metabolic acidosis