Retrospective evaluation of acid-base imbalances, clinicopathologic alterations, and prognostic factors in hospitalized calves with Eimeria-associated diarrhea.

Introduction: After the neonatal period Eimeriosis is one of the most common causes of large intestinal diarrhea in calves. In contrast to neonatal calves with diarrhea, there are very few reports about the clinicopathological alterations in affected animals, which are mainly based on experimental data. The aim of the present study was therefore to characterize acid-base and related clinicopathologic alterations in calves with Eimeria-associated diarrhea and to identify variables associated with in-hospital mortality.

[Uroperitoneum in a heifer].

Uroperitoneum is a rarely documented finding in heifers. More frequently uroperitoneum is described in male youngstock suffering from obstructive urolithiasis, or abscesses of the urachus. This report describes a case of uroperitoneum most likely as a result of a traumatic rupture of the urinary bladder in an 8.

Acid-base imbalances and the association of blood-gas variables, electrolytes, and biochemical analytes with outcome in hospitalized calves undergoing abdominal surgery.

Background: Surgical abdominal emergencies in calves are associated with a guarded prognosis and have the potential for complex metabolic derangements including acid-base imbalances.

Objectives: To perform a comprehensive analysis of acid-base status and to assess the prognostic relevance of preoperative clinicopathologic variables in calves undergoing abdominal surgery.

Animals: Hospital-based study samples of 535 (dataset 1; DS1) and 83 calves (dataset 2; DS2).

Clinical signs, profound acidemia, hypoglycemia, and hypernatremia are predictive of mortality in 1,400 critically ill neonatal calves with diarrhea.

Profound acidemia impairs cellular and organ function and consequently should be associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill humans and animals. Neonatal diarrhea in calves can result in potentially serious metabolic derangements including profound acidemia due to strong ion (metabolic) acidosis, hyper-D-lactatemia, hyper-L-lactatemia, azotemia, hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the prognostic relevance of clinical and laboratory findings in 1,400 critically ill neonatal calves with diarrhea admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital.

Construction and validation of a decision tree for treating metabolic acidosis in calves with neonatal diarrhea.

Background: The aim of the present prospective study was to investigate whether a decision tree based on basic clinical signs could be used to determine the treatment of metabolic acidosis in calves successfully without expensive laboratory equipment. A total of 121 calves with a diagnosis of neonatal diarrhea admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital were included in the study. The dosages of sodium bicarbonate administered followed simple guidelines based on the results of a previous retrospective analysis.

The prevalence and clinical relevance of hyperkalaemia in calves with neonatal diarrhoea.

One hundred and twenty-four calves with neonatal diarrhoea were investigated in order to assess the prevalence of hyperkalaemia and the associated clinical signs. Hyperkalaemia (potassium concentration >5.8mmol/L) was recognized in 42 (34%) calves and was more closely associated with dehydration than with decreases in base excess or venous blood pH.

[Euthanasia of cattle: a clinical comparison of T 61 and pentobarbital (Eutha 77)].

The objective of this study was a comparison of pentobarbital and T 61 in the euthanasia of cattle. 397 cattle of different ages and breeds which had to be euthanised in the Clinic for Ruminants were enrolled. Following clinical examination, euthanasia was performed by intravenous injection of either 40 mg pentobarbital per kg body weight (BW) (0.