ORT quick guide

ORT Component	Why does it matter?	Recommended levels	Rehydion
Na+ (mmol/l)	Essential to normalise extra-cellular fluid losses. Can cause salt toxicity if ORT levels are too high	90-130	100
K+ (mmol/l)	Essential to replace losses in faeces	10-30	23
Cl- (mmol/l)	Essential to replace losses in faeces	40-80	48
Strong Ion Difference (SID) (mmol/l)	Must be correct to successfully treat electrolyte imbalance and acidosis	60-80	75
Alkalising agent (mmol/l)	Important to tackle excess D-lactic acid correct metabolic acidosis	50-80	81
Which alkalising agent?	Acetate and propionate are preferred, over bicarbonate or citrate, because they: Enhance sodium absorption in calf small intestine Provide energy when metabolised Do not over-alkalise the abomasum which can increase the growth of E. coli and Salmonella spp. Have no impact on milk clotting		No to both
Energy (MJ/l)	Important to prevent weight loss and delayed recoveryMilk is the best source of energy for scouring calves and lambs (2.52) and it also provides essential amino acids (e.g. glutamine) and nutrients to repair the gut lining		Given with milk
Osmolarity (mOsm/L)	A product with an osmolality greater than what is already present in the intestinal lumen could worsen diarrhoea. Effective osmolality at the tip of the intestinal villus is about 600 mOsm/L Hypertonic solutions are also known to slow abomasal emptying rates compared with isotonic solutions, thereby delaying plasma volume expansion.	<600	283
Form	Ease of administration is a hugely important aspect of ORT to ensure compliance and therefore the best clinical outcomes		Liquid

References for this table come from a range of sources11

Product	Na+ Mmol/l	K+ Mmol/l	Cl- Mmol/l	SID Mmol/l	Bicarbonate or citrate	Alkalising agent Mmol/l	Energy MJ/L	Osmolarity mOsm/kg	Extras
Recommended levels(1,2,3)	90 – 130	10 – 30	40 – 80	60 – 80		50 – 80	Milk = 2.52	500 – 600
Diakur Plus (Boehringer Ingleheim)	112	53	83	82	Bicarbonate Citrate**	49	Feed with milk	In water = 377 In milk = 619 +/- 37**	Lecithin coated fibres + yeasts with MOS
Effydral Zoetis	120	15	55	75	Bicarbonate	55	0.57	390
Lectade Plus Elanco	50	20	39	31	Citrate	10	1.28	304
Life Aid Extra (Norbrook)	90	25	60	55	Citrate	37	0.44	387
(Ceva)	100	23	48	75	None	81	Feed with milk	In water = 290 In milk = 535 +/- 30**
Scour Proof Extra (TVM)	101	16	52	66	Bicarbonate	49	0.44	462	Mix in 1.5L water, also has a thickening agent

** Constable 2009

Product	Recommended levels(1,2,3)
Na+ Mmol/l	90 – 130
K+ Mmol/l	10 – 30
Cl- Mmol/l	40 – 80
SID Mmol/l	60 – 80
Bicarbonate or citrate
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	50 – 80
Energy MJ/L	Milk = 2.52
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	500 – 600
Extras

Product	Diakur Plus (Boehringer Ingleheim)
Na+ Mmol/l	112
K+ Mmol/l	53
Cl- Mmol/l	83
SID Mmol/l	82
Bicarbonate or citrate	Bicarbonate Citrate**
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	49
Energy MJ/L	Feed with milk
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	In water = 377 In milk = 619 +/- 37**
Extras	Lecithin coated fibres + yeasts with MOS

** Constable 2009

Product	Effydral Zoetis
Na+ Mmol/l	120
K+ Mmol/l	15
Cl- Mmol/l	55
SID Mmol/l	75
Bicarbonate or citrate	Bicarbonate
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	55
Energy MJ/L	0.75
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	390
Extras

Product	Lectade Plus Elanco
Na+ Mmol/l	50
K+ Mmol/l	20
Cl- Mmol/l	39
SID Mmol/l	31
Bicarbonate or citrate	Citrate
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	10
Energy MJ/L	1.28
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	304
Extras

Product	Life Aid Extra (Norbrook)
Na+ Mmol/l	90
K+ Mmol/l	25
Cl- Mmol/l	60
SID Mmol/l	55
Bicarbonate or citrate	Citrate
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	37
Energy MJ/L	0.44
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	387
Extras

Product	(Ceva)
Na+ Mmol/l	100
K+ Mmol/l	23
Cl- Mmol/l	48
SID Mmol/l	75
Bicarbonate or citrate	None
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	81
Energy MJ/L	Feed with milk
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	In water = 290 In milk = 535 +/- 30**
Extras

** Constable 2009

Product	Scour Proof Extra (TVM)
Na+ Mmol/l	101
K+ Mmol/l	16
Cl- Mmol/l	52
SID Mmol/l	66
Bicarbonate or citrate	Bicarbonate
Alkalising agent Mmol/l	48
Energy MJ/L	0.44
Osmolarity mOsm/kg	462
Extras	Mix in 1.5L water, also has a thickening agent

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