Eighteen health Holstein calves between 18 and 30 days old and 37 weighting 50kg (body weight - BW) were used to develop a model for inducing osmotic diarrhea in order to cause a status of dehydration. Thus, sucrose (4g kg BW-1) and spirolactone and hydrochlorothiazide (2mg g BW-1) were added to the whole milk (16.5mL kg-1) each 8h for two days. Physical examination and blood samples for hemogram, acid:base status and biochemical analysis were obtained at 0 (T0), 24h (T1) and 48h (T2). Watery diarrhea and severe dehydration (13% of the BW) were seen in all calves, followed by pre-renal azotemia, high values of hematocrit, hemoglobin and total protein levels, hiperkalemia, hyperlactemia, and hyperphosphatemia, metabolic acidosis and decreased plasma volume and central venous pressure.
calves; induction; osmotic diarrhea
