TY - JOUR AU - Trefz, Florian M. AU - Lorch, Annette AU - Feist, Melanie AU - Sauter-Louis, Carola AU - Lorenz, Ingrid PY - 2012 DA - 2012/12/06 TI - Construction and validation of a decision tree for treating metabolic acidosis in calves with neonatal diarrhea JO - BMC Veterinary Research SP - 238 VL - 8 IS - 1 AB - The aim of the present prospective study was to investigate whether a decision tree based on basic clinical signs could be used to determine the treatment of metabolic acidosis in calves successfully without expensive laboratory equipment. A total of 121 calves with a diagnosis of neonatal diarrhea admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital were included in the study. The dosages of sodium bicarbonate administered followed simple guidelines based on the results of a previous retrospective analysis. Calves that were neither dehydrated nor assumed to be acidemic received an oral electrolyte solution. In cases in which intravenous correction of acidosis and/or dehydration was deemed necessary, the provided amount of sodium bicarbonate ranged from 250 to 750 mmol (depending on alterations in posture) and infusion volumes from 1 to 6.25 liters (depending on the degree of dehydration). Individual body weights of calves were disregarded. During the 24 hour study period the investigator was blinded to all laboratory findings. SN - 1746-6148 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-238 DO - 10.1186/1746-6148-8-238 ID - Trefz2012 ER -