A practical method for estimation of blood acidity level using faecal pH in diarrhoeic calves

Abstract

Incomplete oxidation of carbohydrates, due to anaerobic metabolism when tissues are inadequately perfused during dehydration, results in a higher production levels of organic acids such as lactic acid. Acidosis resulting from the loss of base Is frequently encountered during diarrhoea and is caused by the loss of bicarbonate or its equivalent substances in diarrhoeic faeces. Although the actual losses of base contributes to acidosis, dehydration usually developing concurrently also leads to elevated acidity, as explained previously (Radostitis et al., 1994)