Enteral fluid therapy in large animals.
Abstract: Enteral fluids administered alone, or in conjunction with intravenous fluids, are reported to be useful for the treatment of dehydration and electrolyte loss associated with diarrhoea in a number of species, following exercise in horses and for feed impaction of the large intestine of horses. Enteral fluids are suitable for treatment of mild to moderately dehydrated patients with some intact intestinal epithelium and motile small intestine. In patients that will drink voluntarily or tolerate nasal intubation the use of enteral fluids may avoid the complications associated with intravenous fluid administration. However the labour costs associated with repeated nasal intubation in intensively managed patients requiring large volumes of fluids may make the use of enteral fluids less economical than intravenous fluid administration. Enteral fluid use alone is contraindicated in patients that are severely dehydrated and/or in hypovolaemic shock, however, if used in conjunction with intravenous fluids, the effects of villous atrophy and malnutrition may be ameliorated and the duration of hospitalisation shortened. There is a variety of commercially available enteral fluids available to veterinary practitioners. While the key components of these fluids are sodium, chloride and carbohydrates, the amounts of ions and other ingredients such as potassium, alkalising agents, amino acids and shortchain fatty acids may vary. The species of the animal, the underlying condition, and the constituents of the fluid, should influence the choice of an enteral fluid.
Publication Date: 2006-12-13 PubMed ID: 17156332DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2006.00072.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study examines how enteral fluids, used alone or in combination with intravenous fluids, can treat dehydration and electrolyte loss in various animal species. However, the cost-effectiveness and suitability depends on the animal’s condition and the fluid’s constituent elements.
Understanding Enteral Fluid Therapy
- Enteral fluid therapy involves administering fluids via the gastrointestinal tract. This method is reported to be useful for treating a variety of dehydration causes in large animals, such as diarrhea, physical exertion in horses, and blockages in the horse’s large intestine.
- This treatment method is apt for mildly to moderately dehydrated animals that still retain some functional intestinal epithelium and have a motile small intestine. However, it is not recommended for severely dehydrated patients or those in hypovolaemic shock.
Usage and Limitations of Enteral Fluids
- Pets that drink willingly or can tolerate nasal intubation could benefit from enteral fluids, thus avoiding complications associated with intravenous fluid administration.
- Despite its advantages, the labor-intensive nature of regular nasal intubation, especially for animals requiring large fluid volumes, might render the use of enteral fluids less economical compared to intravenous fluid administration.
- If enteral fluids are used in combination with intravenous fluids for severely dehydrated or hypovolemic shock patients, the detrimental effects related to villous atrophy and malnutrition might be reduced, potentially shortening hospitalization duration.
Variety and Selection of Enteral Fluids
- There is a wide range of commercially available enteral fluids for veterinary practitioners. The main components of these fluids are sodium, chloride, and carbohydrates.
- However, the quantities of ions and other ingredients—like potassium, alkalising agents, amino acids, and short-chain fatty acids—can vary.
- The choice of enteral fluid should be influenced by the animal species, the underlying condition, and the fluid’s constituents.
Cite This Article
APA
Rainger JE, Dart AJ.
(2006).
Enteral fluid therapy in large animals.
Aust Vet J, 84(12), 447-451.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2006.00072.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Veterinary Centre Camden, The University of Sydney, NSW 2570, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Dehydration / therapy
- Dehydration / veterinary
- Diarrhea / therapy
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Electrolytes / therapeutic use
- Fluid Therapy / adverse effects
- Fluid Therapy / economics
- Fluid Therapy / methods
- Fluid Therapy / veterinary
- Horses
- Infusions, Intravenous / adverse effects
- Infusions, Intravenous / economics
- Infusions, Intravenous / methods
- Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
- Intestinal Obstruction / therapy
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Intubation, Gastrointestinal / adverse effects
- Intubation, Gastrointestinal / economics
- Intubation, Gastrointestinal / methods
- Intubation, Gastrointestinal / veterinary
- Rehydration Solutions / therapeutic use
- Species Specificity
- Swine
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