Table 1 Improvement of clinical signs during the study period as indicated by the number of calves in the clinical categories on admission (n = 121) and 24 hours after the initiation of therapy (n = 116)
Clinical Categories (Score) | On admission* | After 24 h | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
n | n | ||
Posture/Ability to stand | |||
 Standing up by itself (1) | 7 | 12 | < 0.001 |
 Standing up after encouragement (2) | 53 | 99 | |
 Standing securely after lifting (3) | 7 | 4 | |
 Insecurely, able to correct position if pushed (4) | 14 | 1 | |
 Insecurely, not able to correct position if pushed (5) | 24 (29) | - | |
 Sternal recumbency (6) | 7 | - | |
 Lateral recumbency (7) | 4 | - | |
Behavior | |||
 Adequate reaction to acoustic and optical stimuli, very bright and alert (1) | 18 | 48 | < 0.001 |
 Adequate reaction to acoustic and optical stimuli (2) | 37 | 62 | |
 Delayed reaction to acoustic and optical stimuli (3) | 42 | 6 | |
 Calf reacts only to painful stimuli (e.g. venipuncture) (4) | 15 (20) | - | |
 No reaction to painful stimuli (5) | 4 | - | |
Suckling reflex | |||
 Strong (1) | 33 | 45 | 0.003 |
 Weak (2) | 42 | 52 | |
 Absent or chewing movements (3) | 41 (46) | 19 | |
Palpebral reflex | |||
 Eyelids are closed immediately and fully (1) | 55 | 98 | < 0.001 |
 Eyelids are closed immediately but not fully (2) | 34 | 17 | |
 Eyelids are closed with delay and not fully (3) | 20 (24) | 1 | |
 Eyelids are not closed at all (4) | 7 (8) | - | |
Degree of enophthalmos # | |||
 None (1) | 41 | 99 | < 0.001 |
 Slightly sunken (2) | 31 (32) | 13 | |
 Moderately sunken (3) | 26 (29) | 4 | |
 Severely sunken (4) | 18 (19) | - | |
Degree of skin tenting | |||
 Resolution of skin tenting prompt (1) | 8 | 35 | < 0.001 |
 Slightly delayed (2) | 23 | 45 | |
 Moderately delayed (3) | 38 (40) | 32 | |
 Skin tenting does not resolve spontaneously (4) | 47 (50) | 4 |  |