How do I give my calves electrolytes?

Asked by: Jessica Hill

Because the electrolytes can interfere with the digestion of milk, it’s best to alternate milk feedings with electrolyte feedings. You can administer electrolytes by having the calf suck from a nipple bottle or drink from a pail.

When should I give a calf electrolytes?

Under heat stress conditions, electrolytes should be given at an equal interval between milk feedings. For example, if calves are fed in the morning and evening, an electrolyte feeding should be offered at noon. If necessary, a second electrolyte feeding can be offered a few hours after the evening milk feeding.

What is the best calf electrolyte?

How to Pick the Best Electrolyte for Your Calves

• Sodium Concentration: 90 to 130 mmol/L.
• Chloride: 40 to 80 mEq/L.
• Potassium: 10 to 30 mmol/L.
• Osmolality: 500 to 600 mOsm/L.
• Strong Ion Difference: 60 to 80 mEq/L.
• One or more alkalizing agents: bicarbonate, acetate, propionate.
• Glucose: 2 to 3 grams per kg body of the calf.

Can you give calves human electrolytes?

A calf with diarrhea loses sodium and other minerals in their manure, which also pulls water into their intestines, causing dehydration. In order to hydrate the calf, offer an electrolyte with sodium concentration between 90 and 130 mmol/L to facilitate water absorption.

How many days can you give a calf electrolytes?

two to three days

Continue feeding electrolytes for two to three days, until scours have stopped and hydration is normal, or as directed by your veterinarian. It’s also important to offer electrolytes in addition to fresh clean water. If severe dehydration occurs, calves will require intravenous therapy.

What do you do for a dehydrated calf?

Oral rehydration solutions, or electrolytes, are an effective way to replenish fluids lost during the course of dehydration in calves with diarrhea or heat stress.

Can you give Gatorade to calves?

Feed at the rate of 1 pound per 10 pounds of body weight. A 90-pound calf might receive 2.5 pounds of electrolyte solution four times a day. Gatorade contains electrolytes and may be given at a rate of 1 quart per feeding in a nipple pail to scouring calves.

Does apple cider vinegar help with calf scours?

Cider vinegar, the stuff probably sitting at the back of your press after you used it once in a salad is remarkably effective in preventing scours. Anecdotal evidence suggests that adding 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to each calf’s milk bottle twice a day (each feeding) virtually eliminates scours.

Do eggs help calf scours?

Using egg antibodies to help prevent scour-causing pathogens from overwhelming the calf’s defenses and causing an infection may be one technique to consider. Average daily gains (ADG) are useful but not the only indicator of calf quality. The link between ADG and first-lactation milk production is well established.

What is the best medicine for scours in calves?

TERRAMYCIN ^® Scours Tablets is an oral formulation containing oxytetracycline, a versatile broad-spectrum antibiotic that possesses potent antimicrobial activity, for use in beef and dairy calves.

What do you give a sick calf with scours?

Electrolytes. Giving oral electrolytes to correct and prevent dehydration is the most important aspect of calf scours treatment. Scouring calves require six to 10 litres of fluids per day divided over at least 2–3 feeds. This total fluid requirement includes any milk feeds.

How do you stop calf scours?

In general, feed calves a minimum of 8 quarts (2 gallons) per day of either whole milk or high-quality milk replacer (26:20). To prevent calf scours, use a system-wide approach that includes, cow health, colostrum management, calf nutrition, cleaning and sanitizing, and vaccination.