Research Information System
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY, vol.75, no.1, pp.6757-6764, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxygen therapy on clinical, hematological, biochemical
and venous blood gases in diarrheic calves with hyperkalemia in addition to routine diarrhea and fluid-electrolyte
therapy. Animal material consisted of 20 diarrheic and hyperkalemic calves, of different ages. Diarrheic calves
with serum potassium levels greater than 6 mmol/L were included in the study following the clinical examination and
analysis results. The calves were divided into two groups. Calves in the 1stgroup (n=10) received routine diarrhea and
fluid-electrolyte treatment and calves in the 2ndgroup (n=10) received routine diarrhea and fluid-electrolyte treatment
as well as oxygen applications by mask. Blood samples were taken from the animals for blood gas, hematological and
biochemical analyses. The decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate was more significant in the 2nd group when compared
to the 1st group. When statistically comparing the same time periods of both groups, heart rates were lower in
the oxygen applied group and this decrease was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the 2nd group; decrease in WBC,
Lym, RBC, Hct%, Hb, MCH, MCHC and MCV levels and increase in Neu and THR levels were statistically significant
(p < 0.05). Increase in pH, pO2, sO2, Na, Cl, cHCO3 and decrease in pCO2, K, Lac, cBaseEcf and AnionGap were detected.
When comparing the same time period of 1st and 2nd groups, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were
determined on the 5th hour in K, on the 24th hour in pH and pO2 values. Particularly in the oxygen applied group; there
were statistically significant alterations in pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2, K and Lac (p < 0.05). Among biochemical parameters;
decrease in LDH and TP in the 2nd group, and decrease in TP and ALB in the 1st group were found to be statistically
significant (p < 0.05). As a result, oxygen administration in addition to routine diarrhea treatment is thought to have
positive effects on pH, pO2, pCO2, sO2and K. Based on the results obtained in this study, it was concluded that oxygen
therapy would be beneficial for calves with diarrhea and hyperkalemia.