Treating Dehydrated Calves on the Farm – Vet Guide 2025 🐄💧

Hi, I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc. Dehydration is a top cause of calf mortality, whether from scours or weak nursing. 2025 protocols focus on accurate on-farm assessment, fluid volume calculations, and clear oral or IV therapy guidelines—with Ask A Vet coaching to help every step.

1. Why Eyeball Recession Beats Skin Tent 💡

• Skin tenting is inaccurate when felt over shoulders/back.
• Eyeball recession at the medial canthus correlates directly with hydration—measure in mm and double it for % dehydration.
• 4 mm recession = ~8% dehydration = threshold for switching from oral to IV therapy.

2. Calculating Fluid Deficit 💧

Use this formula to ✔ determine fluid needs accurately:

Fluid volume (mL) = calf weight (kg) × % dehydration × 10

Example: 50 kg calf at 8% = 50 × 8 × 10 = 4,000 mL (4 L) to correct deficit.

3. Oral vs IV Fluid Therapy

Oral Fluids (≤8%)

• Feed electrolyte solutions high in sodium plus milk via feeding tube.
• Maintain milk/replacer for energy—don’t stop during rehydration.
• Repeat until eyeball recession improves to normal.

IV Fluids (>8%)

• Severe dehydration means calves are often in shock and hypoglycemic.
• Seek vet assistance for IV administration of isotonic fluids, electrolytes, and dextrose.
• Resume milk feeds ASAP after IV therapy.

4. Ask A Vet Farm‑Side Treatment Support 📱

• 🧐 Train you and staff in sensing eyeball recession accurately
• 🧮 Check fluid deficit calculations live
• 📈 Recommend correct oral electrolyte products and IV protocols
• 💡 Guide on sequencing fluids and milk for smooth recovery
• 🗂 Help monitor your herd data and tweak protocols by calf age/weight

Conclusion

Accurate assessment through eyeball recession, calculated fluid therapy, and combined oral/IV support + milk are proven lifesavers. Ask A Vet helps you train, calculate, treat, and track your herd's progress—making 2025 the year you drastically reduce calf losses. 🐾📉