Rehydration and catabolic preventive effects depend on the composition of oral electrolyte solutions for diarrheic calves.

In this study, two commercially available oral electrolyte solutions (OES) with high sodium (CF) or with high glucose and glycine (SL), and two prototype OES were evaluated in terms of rehydration and preventing catabolism. Prototype OES based on CF were prepared by doubling the glucose amount (CFG) or by doubling both glucose and glycine (CFGG). Thirty-two diarrheic calves were randomly assigned four groups with eight calves in each group. Blood volume increased with CF and CFGG compared with that of other OES. The catabolic preventive effect was excellent in CFGG and SL. Our results suggest that both the amount of sodium, glucose, and glycine, and ratio of these factors aid dehydration and provide energy.