1.3 Bovine Lameness

Question 1

What is the bovine mobility score?

Answer 1

score 0: walks even with weight bearing and rhythym on all 4 feet with a flat back

score 1: uneven steps or shortened strides; localization not immediately obvious

score 2: uneven weight bearing on limb that is immediately identifiable (uaually arch to center of back)

score 3: unable to walk as fast as brisk human pace (unable to keep up with herd) and signs of score 2

• 0: No action required. Will benefit from routine trimming.
• 1-3: cows need remedial attention. Urgency of treatment is dependent on the score given.

Question 2

What are common lesions of the bovine foot?

Answer 2

(1) sole ulcer

• common on hind foot lateral claw
• overgrown hoof -> weight on heel -> heel bruise -> heel ulcer
• underrun ulcer: corium separates from sole wall; Must trim back until it is fused so it can heal
• corium prolapses through the sole horn
• trim, wooden/rubber block sound claw, NSAIDs
• risk when BSC decreases (fat pad gone), and overgrown claws (more weight on heel)

(2) white line disease

• junction b/w sole and wall
• disease process or injury leads to hemorrhage and separation, or bacterial infection
  The white line may be pink/red due to inflammation/hemorrhage, or darker due to infection
• abscessation and wall ulceration are common end-stage processes, and are often reported separately due to severity
• drain pus/trim, wooden block, NSAIDs, antibiotic application

(3) digital dermatitis (M1-4)

• caused by Treponemes (bacteria)
• often affects heel bulb, and may lead to ulcers or hairy wart-like growths
• M1+M2: clean, dry, topical antimicrobial until recovered
• M4: clean, debride/debulk, bandage with abtimicrobial (copper gel/spray, salicyclic acid, tetracycline)
• herd interventions: 4-5% formalin foot bath daily (or copper sulphate or peracetic acid; good slurry management (keep yards dry)

(4) foul (in-the-foot) AKA foot rot

• infection in the subcutatious tissue by fusobacterium necrophorum
• symetrical swelling, separation of claws, and interdigital skin necrosis (pungent odor)
• associated with FBs or sand b/w claws
• super foul is severe, peracute form with possible mixed bacterial species (treponemes)
• clean and debride interdigital space, disinfect and use licensed injectable + systemic antibiotic (cephalexin/oxytetracycline)

review photos!

Left: DD; Middle: Foul; Right: sole ulcer

Question 3

Know cow foot anatomy.

Answer 3

1. Wall horn – this is the equivalent to our fingernail and is by far the strongest horn and most important for bearing weight.
2. Sole horn – the equivalent to the footpad on a dog or cat.
3. White line – the junction between the wall horn and sole horn, made up of weaker horn.
4. Pedal bone – equivalent to the bone at the end of our fingertips, it is the main bone in the hoof (triangular in shape).
5. Laminar corium (quick) – important tissue supporting the pedal bone within the hoof wall (the ‘laminae’).
6. Sole corium – responsible for making new sole horn, it is prone to damage, leading to bruising, sole ulcers and white line haemorrhage.
7. Coronary band – at the hairline at the top of the hoof wall. New horn grows down from here, taking about a year to reach the toe end and five months to heal.
8. Flexor tendon – attaches the pedal bone. Damage following deep infection can lead to toe distortion.
9. Digital cushion – a dense fat pad under the heel. With the heel, it is very important for absorbing and dissipating force and supporting the pedal bone when the animal walks.

Question 4

What is the dutch 5-step trim?

Answer 4

wash and disinfect the foot; care whenscrubbing if lesion is sore

Step 1:

• trim toe to correct length (start with medial hind claw or lateral foreclaw, asthese are typically most normal)
• should be 7.5cm from coronary band
• correct sole depth (white line jsut reappears at tip of toe (spare the heel)

Step 2:

• repeat in second claw using first as a template

Step 3:

• dish out sole to transfer weight to the wall, toe, and heel

continue if there is pathology:

Step 4:

• relieve weight off painful claw (block healthy claw or trim back 2/3 or painful claw)

Step 5:

• remove loose / under-run horn and hard edges