Water intoxication in adult cattle

Water intoxication is a common disorder in calves and is usually characterized by transient hemoglobinuria. In contrast, the condition is very rare in adult cattle, with few reports on naturally occurring cases. In the present report, four female Japanese Black cattle, aged 16-25 months, showed neurological signs when they drank water following a water outage. Hemoglobinuria was not grossly observed, while severe hyponatremia was revealed by laboratory tests. Autopsy indicated cerebral edema with accumulation of serous fluid in expanded Virchow-Robin spaces. These results indicate the possibility of water intoxication associated with cerebral edema due to severe dilutional hyponatremia in adult cattle.

Water intoxication in cattle

Water intoxication is a condition that is common in cattle, and has also been reported in other domestic animals and man. A comprehensive description of the condition is lacking. For a better understanding of the condition, this paper reviews work that has been reported previously by various authors.

Treatment of sodium balance disorders. Water intoxication and salt toxicity

Electrolyte disorders are commonly identified in food animal medicine. Some of these electrolyte disturbances require that the veterinarian be aware of the potential for causing harm during routine fluid therapy. Hyponatremia (water intoxication) and hypernatremia (salt toxicity) are two such disorders. Both create osmolar disturbances that effect changes in the brain's osmolar state. During fluid resuscitation it is possible to cause iatrogenic central nervous system damage in these cases. It is important to recognize those cases where sodium imbalance may complicate routine therapy, understand the underlying mechanisms for osmolar changes in the plasma and brain, and know the appropriate steps to take for safe correction of the sodium disturbance.

Hemolysis associated with water administration using a nipple bottle for human infants in juvenile pygmy goats

A 4-month-old, 6.8-kg, castrated male pygmy goat was examined for recurrent episodic fever and red urine of 7 days' duration. A second, 3-month-old, 7-kg, intact female pygmy goat was presented for similar clinical signs. The red discoloration of the urine in each case was determined to be due to hemolysis with subsequent hemoglobinuria. In both cases, hemolysis and hemoglobinuria were closely associated with the goats consuming large volumes of water from a human infant's nipple bottle. A diagnosis of water intoxication-induced hemolysis and hemoglobinuria was made. Episodes of hemoglobinuria in the first case were consistently associated with dilute (specific gravity < 1.010) urine. Water intoxication has been associated with bottle-feeding in human infants and is also widely reported in human psychiatric patients. The small erythrocytes in goats appear to be the most sensitive of the domestic species to hypotonicity-induced hemolysis.

Pathological changes in calves that died from experimental water intoxication

The pathology of calves that died from experimental water intoxication was investigated. Oedema of the brain and urinary bladder, and renal damage were significant pathological findings in these calves. The findings were attributed to positive water balance in calves suffering from water intoxication.