Enteral hydration in cows: Comparison between continuous flow and bolus administration.

Background: Enteral hydration in cattle is most commonly performed as a bolus (B) via the ororuminal route, although continuous flow (CF) administration via the nasoesophageal route represents a viable alternative. Currently, no study has compared the effectiveness of these two methods. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of enteral hydration using CF and B to correct water, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances in cows.

Methods: Protocols for the induction of dehydration were applied twice to eight healthy cows, with an interval of 1 week. In a crossover design, two types of enteral hydration were performed using the same electrolyte solution and volume equal to 12% of bodyweight (BW): CF (10 mL/kg/h, between 0 and 12 hours) and B (6% BW, twice, at 0 and 6 hours). Clinical and blood variables were determined at -24, 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours and compared using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: Induced moderate dehydration and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis were corrected after 12 hours using the two hydration methods, with no differences observed between the methods.

Limitations: The study was conducted with induced rather than natural imbalances, so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Conclusion: Enteral CF hydration is as effective as B hydration in reversing dehydration and correcting electrolyte and acid-base imbalances.