Kidney function is reduced, and the body loses its ability to excrete the acid. Electrolyte shifts result in an imbalance of body salts. The accumulated acids and salts are extremely toxic to the heart. Dehydration is the most noticeable consequence. Only calves that die very early in the course of a disease and those so mildly affected that they compensate for fluid losses fail to dehydrate.
Eyes become sunken, hair roughened, skin inelastic and doughy, and legs cool to the touch.
The calf eventually loses interest in feeding, gets up slowly, and finally is unable to rise at all. Treatment Treatment of calf scours should be aimed first at replacing lost fluids, second at restoring a normal acid-base balance, and third at furnishing nutrients to the body tissues. Most occurrences of diarrhea are self-limiting. The primary objective then is to maintain all physiological functions of the calf while the disease runs its course. Antibiotics may be effective in controlling bacterial infections if carefully chosen.