Dehydration in calves

- Evaluation of dehydration and relevant therapeutic support

The following table provides insight into how dehydration levels can be measured and what the best recommended way is to support the calf. 

Dehydration %	Demeanour or behaviour	Sunken eyes	Skin Elasticity (skin tent test)	Support therapy
<5%	Normal	None	<1 sec.	None
6 – 8%	Slight depression	2 – 4 millimetres	1 – 2 sec.	Oral
8 – 10%	Depressed	4 – 6 millimetres	2 – 5 sec.	IV Fluids
10 – 12%	Unable to stand	6 – 8 millimetres	5 – 10 sec.	IV Fluids
>12%	Unresponsive or comatose	8 – 12 millimetres	>10 sec.	IV Fluids

The quantity of replacement fluid in liters is calculated by multiplying the estimated dehydration in percentage with body weight in kilograms according to the following formula:

Replacement fluid[L]=dehydration[%]×bodyweight[kg]

The fluids are usually given in two stages:

• Hydration therapy in the first 4 to 6 hours at a rate of 100 to 150 mL/kg BW intravenously.

• Maintenance therapy (a combination of continuous losses and maintenance requirements) in the next 20 to 24 hours, depending on the severity and the course of the disease, at 60 to 80 mL/kg BW per 24 hours intravenously (approximately 3–4 mL/kg BW per hour).

In some cases of profuse diarrhea, the continuous losses and maintenance requirements will be about 150 mL/kg BW over a 24-hour period.

When a calf is 8-10% dehydrated, and has a poor or no suckling reflex, fluids are provided subcutaneous instead or intravenous.