Evaluation of an oral electrolyte solution for treatment of mild to moderate dehydration in dogs with hemorrhagic diarrhea

Update on Canine Parvoviral Enteritis

Canine parvoviral enteritis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in dogs worldwide. Tests can detect viral antigen in feces, and characteristic decreases in total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts can increase the index of suspicion in affected cases and can be used to prognosticate morbidity and mortality. The standard of care for infected animals includes IV crystalloid and sometimes colloid fluids, antiemetics, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and early enteral nutrition. Vaccination induces protective immunity in most dogs. Vaccination, along with limiting exposure in young puppies, is the most effective means of preventing parvoviral enteritis in dogs.

Hypotonic enteral electrolyte solutions administered by nasoesophageal tube in continuous flow in dogs dehydrated by water restriction: Part 1

ABSTRACT The present study assessed and compared the effects of hypotonic enteral electrolyte solutions administered by nasoesophageal tube in continuous flow in dogs submitted to water restriction on packed cell volume; total serum protein and serum osmolarity concentrations; blood volume; plasma glucose and lactate levels; blood gas analysis, anion gap, and strong ion difference. Six adult dogs were used (four males and two females). All animals were submitted to both proposed treatments in a crossover design 6×2. The treatments were as follows: ESmalt consisting of 5g sodium chloride, 1g potassium chloride, 1g calcium acetate, 0.2g magnesium pidolate, and 9.6g maltodextrin that were diluted in 1.000mL water (measured osmotic concentration of 215mOsm L−1) and ESdext consisting of 5g sodium chloride, 1g potassium chloride, 1g calcium acetate, 0.2g magnesium pidolate, and 9.6g dextrose that were diluted in 1.000mL water (measured osmotic concentration of 243mOsm L−1). All solutions were administered at 15ml kg−1 h−1 for 4 hours. Both solutions increased the plasma volume in dehydrated dogs without causing adverse effects. However, ESmalt was more effective in promoting the increase in blood volume.

Fluid and Electrolyte Therapy During Vomiting and Diarrhea

Fluid therapy is generally the most life saving and important therapeutic measure in a critical pet suffering from dehydration due to gastrointestinal losses (vomiting and/or diarrhea). Fluid therapy should be personalized to the patient's history, complaint, physical examination and laboratory findings. It is directed to the patients needs and modified based of the physical and laboratory findings until fluid therapy resuscitation end points are achieved.

Palatability and Clinical Effects of an Oral Recuperation Fluid During the Recovery of Dogs With Suspected Parvoviral Enteritis

Dogs infected with canine parvovirus (CPV) can develop severe enteritis that requires supportive care until voluntary food and water consumption return. An oral recuperation fluid (ORF) may assist in the overall recovery from CPV. The hypotheses of the study were that dogs with naturally infected CPV would prefer the ORF to water and that dogs consuming the ORF would have a more rapid return to voluntary appetite and improved caloric intake during the initial recovery period compared with dogs consuming water. A total of 28 dogs with CPV were enrolled. Dogs were excluded if voluntary food or water intake was present at the time of study enrollment. Dogs were randomized to either an ORF or water group. The designated fluid was offered twice daily, followed by offering the opposite fluid 1 hour later if the designated fluid was refused. Dogs also received a standardized supportive treatment protocol. Beginning on day 2, all dogs were offered a gastrointestinal diet q8h, staggered with the fluid intake trials. A total of 40% (6/15) of dogs with CPV consumed the ORF as their designated fluid, and 31% (4/13) of dogs with CPV consumed water as their designated fluid (P = .71). For those dogs who refused their designated fluid, 56% (5/9) of the dogs consuming ORF ultimately consumed water, and 22% (2/9) of the dogs consuming water also consumed the ORF (P = .33). Dogs who consumed the ORF demonstrated a more rapid return to voluntary appetite (median = 1.5 days [range: 1-3]) compared with those that consumed water (median = 4.25 days [range: 1.5-5.5], P = .01) or neither fluid (median = 2 days [range: 1.5-5.5], P = .03). Additionally, those dogs consuming the ORF demonstrated greater caloric intake [median = 100% resting energy requirement (RER), range: 61%-100%] compared with those that consumed water (median = 19% RER; range: 9%-100%; P = .004) or neither fluid (median = 37% RER; range: 3-100; P = .05). This study suggests that some dogs with CPV voluntarily consume an ORF during the recovery phase of their illness and that consumption of the ORF may foster a more rapid return of voluntary appetite as well as improved caloric intake. Additional studies are warranted to further assess additional effects of this ORF during recovery from CPV.

Clinical effects of abdominal massage combined with fluid infusion in treatment of infantile diarrhea

AIM: To evaluate the clinical effects of abdominal massage with rehydration in the management of infantile diarrhea.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty infants with diarrhea hospitalized from May 2013 to October 2014 were randomly divided into a study group and a control group. The control group received conventional rehydration treatment and care, and the study group received abdominal massage and fluid infusion. Clinical effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The effective rate was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (93.3% vs 78.3%, P < 0.05). Time to recovery of normal body temperature, time to controlling diarrhea, time to correcting dehydration, and hospitalization time were significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The rate of satisfaction of children's families to nursing were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (95.0% vs 75.0%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Application of abdominal massage with rehydration therapy in children with infantile diarrhea has better clinical effects, and can shorten the times to controlling diarrhea and fever and improve the satisfaction of children's families to nursing.

Palatability assessment of an oral recuperation fluid in healthy dogs during the perioperative period

The objective of this study was to determine whether healthy dogs undergoing elective surgery will accept and prefer an oral recuperation fluid (ORF) to water during the perioperative time period and if the consumption of an ORF would lead to increased caloric intake during the final preoperative and first postoperative periods. This prospective, observational study was performed in the setting of a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A total of 67 healthy dogs were presented for routine ovariectomy (n = 30) or castration (n = 37). Before surgical intervention, dogs were offered an ORF to assess their voluntary acceptance of the fluid. After 2 hours, the ORF was offered alongside water to assess fluid preference. Routine castration or ovariectomy was then performed. During the immediate postoperative period, dogs were reassessed as to their acceptance and preference of the ORF. A high percentage of dogs accepted the ORF in both the preoperative (55/67, 82%) and postoperative (42/67, 63%) periods (P < .01 and P = .04, respectively). Of dogs that demonstrated a preference between the ORF and water, 87% (95% CI: 77%-93%) chose the ORF preoperatively, whereas 98% (95% CI: 87%-99.5%) chose the ORF postoperatively (P < .01 and P < .01, respectively). Dogs that consumed the ORF in each measurement period ingested a higher amount of food (measured as percentage of kilocalories offered) when compared with those that did not consume the ORF (preoperatively 83% vs. 49%, P < .01; postoperatively 51% vs. 27%, P = .01). A commercially manufactured veterinary ORF was found to be palatable, as determined by acceptance and preference testing, in healthy dogs during the preoperative and postoperative phases of routine sterilization. Further studies in dogs undergoing more intensive surgical procedures or recovering from nonsurgical illness or both are warranted.