Rehydration Electrolyte Solution an alternative approach in calf scour

Calf diarrhoea is a multi factorial disease entity that can have serious financial and animal welfare implications in dairy as one of the most common disease reported in calves upto 3 months age. Diarrhoea causes increase cost of treatment, weight loss, retarded growth or even significant mortalities of young. In diarrhoeic animals loose fluid, rapid dehydration, electrolyte loss and acidosis were seen. Though infectious agents may only cause initial damage to the intestine whereas death is usually results from dehydration, acidosis and loss of electrolytes. The treatment of affected calves with antimicrobials is not sufficient to prevent the mortality, as these destroy the infectious agents but cannot help to exert their effects on correction of dehydration. The aim of oral electrolyte therapy is to correct dehydration, restoration of circulatory volume, electrolyte and correction of acid base status, hence help in prevention of mortality in calves.