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Diagnosis and Management of Water Intoxication in A Buffalo Calf
Diagnosis and Management of Water Intoxication in A Buffalo Calf
Abstract
Water intoxication occurs due to rapid ingestion of large amount of water by young calves results in intravascular
hemolysis, hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria. A six-month-old buffalo calf was presented with frequent episodes of
hemoglobinuria within two hours of drinking large amount of water. Clinical examination revealed normal body temperature,
mild tachycardia, pale mucosa and normal appetite. Hematobiochemical estimation revealed reduced hemoglobin
concentration (5.1 gm%), TEC (3.54 million/dl), HCT (19.00%), TLC (6200/dl), MCV (53.8fl), MCHC (26.8 gm%), RDW
(16.4%), Platelets (520000/ cmm), elevated SGPT (98 IU/L), Total Proteins (5.69 gm/dl), Serum Creatinine (0.63 mg/dl),
Serum Calcium (9.59 mg/dl), Serum Phosphorus (4.2 mg/dl), Serum Sodium (130 mEq/L), Serum Chloride (92 mEq/L) and
Blood Glucose (66 mg/dl). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, Serum Sodium and Serum Chloride levels were reduced. The buffalo
calf was successfully treated with Inj. Furosemide@1 mg/kg body weight to promote diuresis. The urine color became
normal within two hours. The owner was advised to add salt in feed and to provide free access to water to calves.
Hematinic were given for controlling anemia.
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Rao et al.
concentration results in intravascular hemolysis, throughout day and avoidance of water for few
hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria. It is minutes immediate after exercise or work.
considered that excessive water ingestion causes
References
temporary extreme drop in plasma osmotic pressure
Binev, R. (2010). A clinical case of water intoxication in
in capillary veins of intestinal wall, where calves. Journal of Mountain Agriculture on the Balkan
intravascular hemolysis may occur (Shimizu et (Bulgaria). 13: 41-58.
al.,1979). In our case, the calf had similar symptoms
with hemoglobinuria. Binev (2010) reported similar Gilchrist, F. (1996). Water intoxication in weaned beef
calves. Can. Vet. J. 37: 490-91.
symptoms to present findings. Gilchrist (1996) also
reported the water intoxication in calves and found Shimizu, Y., Naito, Y. and Murakami, D. (1979). The
almost similar hematobiochemical parameters and experimental study on the mechanism of hemolysis on
response to treatment which favors the findings and paroxysmal hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria in calves
diagnosis in our case. The water intoxication can be due to excessive water intake. Nihon Juigaku Zasshi. 41:
prevented by providing ad lib drinking water 583-92.
Received on: 27.09.2019
Accepted on: 02.12.2019
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