There are many different electrolytes on the market, and it can be difficult to know what product is right for your stock.
What to use:
For lambs and calves with scours, we recommend using Totally Hydrated electrolytes, or the Revive and Diarrest sachets. Not only do they replace electrolytes lost in scours, but they also provide some energy to the calf, and bicarbonate, which helps to prevent secondary acidosis.
It is important to remember that electrolytes should not be the only source of energy for scouring calves/lambs. Studies have shown that continuing to feed the gut helps with recovery from scours. You should continue to feed milk and alternate milk feeds with electrolyte feeds. We recommend giving these 4 hours apart. Some brands of electrolytes can be added to the milk feeds too, including our Totally Hydrated electrolytes.
How to use it:
Simply mix the electrolytes with 2 litres of warm water and you are good to go – follow the mixing instructions on the Totally Hydrated tub to make sure you are adding the correct quantity of electrolytes. For the revive and restore sachets, mix one sachet with 2 litres of warm water. It is important to ensure that the electrolytes are mixed with the correct amount of water, to avoid causing further electrolyte imbalances.
The electrolytes can be added to the animal’s water source, although often sick calves/lambs are weak and won’t freely drink enough to correct their fluid deficit. We recommend using an Antahi tuber to administer fluids – this is a quick and easy way to get electrolytes in. There is a great video online of how to safely place the tube and administer the electrolytes using this tuber. Antahi have also developed a smaller tuber for using in lambs and kids, which is also very user-friendly.
When to use it:
It can be tricky to work out how much fluids are needed. When assessing for dehydration, we consider the skin tent time, how the mucous membranes feel (moist vs dry and tacky) and whether the eyeballs appear sunken. Refer to the below helpful chart (based off a 45kg calf) to help with estimating dehydration.
If you would like further advice on giving fluids and electrolytes to young stock, get in touch with our friendly team today.
