Description

Effective oral rehydration therapy depends on the active absorption of glucose and aminoacetic acid in the small intestine. This absorption is directly linked with water and sodium movement. The net result of Lectade treatment, therefore, is a reversal of fluid and electrolyte loss incurred during diarrhoea. The inclusion of citrate ions in the product further enhances water absorption.

Presentation: A white, water-soluble powder for oral administration contained in paired sachets marked, A and B.

Composition
Sachet A

each 1 g of powder contains:

Sachet B

each 1 g of powder contains:

Dextrose monohydrate

Contents of each sachet

Small animal (dogs and cats)

Large animal (calves, pigs, lambs and horses)

Ionic constitution of made up solution

Sodium: 73.2 mM; Potassium: 15.6 mM; Chloride: 73.2 mM; Citrate: 1.4 mM; Phosphate: 15.0 mM; Aminoacetic Acid: 41.1 mM; Dextrose: 113.7 mM.

Uses: Lectade is an oral rehydration therapy which is indicated as follows:

Dogs and cats

1. To reverse the process of dehydration and loss of electrolytes following diarrhoea.

2. As symptomatic treatment for severe life-threatening diarrhoea such as that caused by parvovirus infection.

3. As an aid in post-operative care where rehydration is required in the recovery period.

Calves

1. To reverse the process of dehydration and loss of electrolytes following diarrhoea resulting from bacteria such as E. coli or viruses such as rotavirus.

2. To reduce scouring in bought-in calves.

Pigs

1. To reverse the process of dehydration and loss of electrolytes following pre- and post-weaning diarrhoea resulting from bacteria such as E. coli or viruses such as rotavirus.

2. To encourage fluid intake and prevent dehydration and setback after periods of stress, e.g. weaning, transporting etc.

3. As a short-term measure to prevent dehydration in piglets when the sow is suffering from agalactia.

Lambs

1. To reverse the process of dehydration and electrolyte loss following diarrhoea.

2. To encourage fluid intake and to prevent dehydration in cases of starvation at lambing.

Horses

1. To reverse the process of dehydration and loss of electrolytes following diarrhoea.

2. To replace electrolytes lost through sweating especially after prolonged exercise, e.g. endurance rides.

3. To treat subclinical dehydration (reflected by raised serum protein and packed cell volume) in performance horses.

Lectade may be used on its own or in conjunction with antibiotics.

Dosage and administration: Lectade is intended for oral administration only.

1. Dogs and cats

The contents of Sachet A and Sachet B (for small animals) to be added to 500 ml (approximately 1 pint) of water (optimum temperature 35°C). The solution may be offered to the animal using the following dosage guide-lines:

Diarrhoea

Dogs and cats showing signs of diarrhoea should have fresh solution made available in place of water. In the event of the animal consistently refusing to drink the Lectade, access to water should be permitted. Once the recommended dose of Lectade has been consumed, additional water may be given.

Post-operative supportive therapy

Dogs and cats should be offered Lectade as an alternative to water upon their recovery from anaesthesia. During the subsequent three days, fresh solution should be offered as an alternative to water.

Duration of treatment

Lectade should be made available for 3–6 days. Limited light feed may be offered as normal in the recovery period. Replace any remaining solution with fresh material every 24 hours.

2. Calves, pigs and lambs

The contents of Sachet A and B (individual pack for large animals) to be added to 2 litres (3½ pints) of water.

1. (a)

   Calves:

   Bought-in calves: Feed 2 litres of solution made up as directed instead of milk as the first feed on arrival. For the second feed, use 1 litre of Lectade solution mixed with 1 litre of milk or milk replacer. Thereafter feed as normal.

   Scouring calves: Immediately scour symptoms show, withdraw milk or milk replacer and feed 2 litres of solution made up as directed twice daily for 2 days (four feeds). For the next four feeds use 1 litre of Lectade solution mixed with 1 litre of milk or milk replacer. Thereafter feed as normal.

   Duration of treatment: If the scouring is established or severe causing serious dehydration the solution should be fed three or four times daily. Lectade may be used on its own for a maximum of four days.

2. (b)

   Pigs:

   Sucking pigs: Immediately scour symptoms show, fresh solution made up as directed should be made available, in a cube drinker or similar clean vessel, to the whole litter. The amount of solution consumed will depend on the age of the piglets, the number in the litter and the severity of the scouring. For example, a litter of 1-week-old piglets will consume approximately 2–3 litres per day. The amount consumed will increase with the age of the piglets and where individual piglets are obviously too weak to suck or drink they may be dosed individually by hand, with a Lectade piglet doser. The amount given may be 20–30 ml on each occasion, three or four times a day.

   Weaned pigs: Weaned pigs showing signs of scour should have fresh solution made available in a suitable clean vessel – cube drinker, trough or drum with nipple drinker (depending on the size of the group). Solid feed intake should be restricted for 1–2 days, but the normal fresh water supply should be continued. (Occasionally it may be necessary to stop the water supply for a few hours to encourage the pigs to start drinking the solution.) The amount of solution consumed will depend on the number of pigs in the group and the severity of the scour, but as a general guide each weaner should be offered about 1 litre per day.

   Weaned piglets sometimes overdrink Lectade if given ad lib. Amounts should therefore be limited to 1 litre per day or the concentration reduced to 50% of normal when this is encountered.

   Duration of treatment: Lectade should be made available for 4 days. If there has been some improvement after 4 days, but the scour has not cleared completely, treatment may be continued for up to 8 days in total.

   Agalactia: Where piglets are receiving reduced milk or none at all, access to Lectade for a maximum of 2 days will prevent dehydration and will also partly offset the nutritive loss. Where agalactia persists for longer periods, a sow milk replacer should be used.

   Periods of stress: Lectade may be used at half the usual concentration, i.e. one sachet in 4 litres for 2–3 days following any period of stress (i.e. weaning, transporting, etc.). Access to Lectade will help to increase fluid and electrolyte consumption and absorption, thus minimising any possible setback.

   Notes: Care must be taken to ensure that piglets are not left without Lectade, drinking water or sow's milk. Check the supply of solution every 12 hours and replenish as necessary. Replace with fresh solution every 24 hours.

3. (c)

   Lambs:

   Scouring lambs: Feed 150–200 ml of solution made up as directed 2–4 times daily as required. The solution should be at blood heat and given via a feeding bottle and teat or a Lectade lamb doser. The lamb should be allowed to suck the ewe. Any unused Lectade may be kept in a clean vessel in a cool place, but should be discarded after 24 hours.

3. Horses

Diarrhoea: Foals may be offered Lectade at a dose of one sachet dissolved in 4 litres of drinking water (or in the normal water intake if this is sufficient). Alternatively, foals may be dosed by stomach tube. In this case, one sachet of Lectade is dissolved in 2 litres of water and dosed at approximately 20–30 ml/kg bodyweight. Administration should be repeated daily as required. Ordinary drinking water should be made available after Lectade administration. Older horses should be offered Lectade added to drinking water (1–2 sachets daily).

Electrolyte replacement after exercise: 1–2 sachets per day added to drinking water or dissolved at a rate of 1 sachet per 2–4 litres of water and offered at drinking breaks during endurance rides.

Treatment of subclinical dehydration: 1 sachet to be given twice daily dissolved in drinking water. Dosage to be continued for 3 days.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc: Avoid overfeeding. Adequate colostrum should be fed to calves. Keep feeding utensils clean.

Withdrawal periods: Nil.

Pharmaceutical precautions: Store in a dry place below 25°C.

Legal category: GSL.

Package quantities: Small animal pack: Cartons containing 6 and 30 paired sachets.

Large animal pack

Cartons containing 12 and 48 paired sachets.

Further information: Effective oral rehydration therapy depends on the active absorption of glucose and aminoacetic acid in the small intestine. This absorption is directly linked with water and sodium movement. The net result of Lectade treatment, therefore, is a reversal of fluid and electrolyte loss incurred during diarrhoea. The inclusion of citrate ions in the product further enhances water absorption.

The excellent palatability facilitates administration to calves and pigs and is useful in improving intake of other medicaments. Our experiments have demonstrated no incompatibility between Lectade and ampicillin, amoxycillin and oxytetracycline.