Comparison between milk deprivation and oral rehydration with a glucose-glycine-electrolyte formulation in diarrhoeic and transported calves
Bywater, R.J.
Veterinary Record 107(24): 549-551
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 7008333 Document Number: 166946
Treatment of diarrheic calves by oral administration of a glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution (GGES) was compared with milk deprivation (water given instead) and with no treatment (milk-fed controls). The diarrhea followed challenge with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The GGES group showed a significantly lower mortality (5%) in comparison with the controls (37%). The milk-deprived group had a slightly lower mortality (30%) in comparison with the controls. The milk deprived group showed a significantly prolonged duration of diarrhea in survivors compared with the control group; the GGES group did not differ significantly from the controls. Calves arriving on farms were allocated randomly to either GGES or to an alternative control treatment (usually partial milk deprivation). The incidence of diarrhea during the subsequent 2 wk was significantly less in the GGES group. Clotting of milk by rennet was impaired by dilution with either water or an electrolyte solution but was enhanced by dilution with GGES.