Diseases of the Bovine Foot

Question 1

cows should not be away from the barn for more than _____________ per day

Answer 1

3 hours

Question 2

the __________ claws are most commonly affected in the rear and the __________ claws are most commonly affected in the front

Answer 2

lateral
medial

Question 3

what bacteria infect in foot rot?

Answer 3

Fusobacterium necrophorum
Bacteroides melaninogenicus
co-infection

Question 4

what is the agent of hairy heel warts/digital dermatitis?

Answer 4

Treponema spp

Question 5

what is the agent of interdigital dermatitis/heel erosion?

Answer 5

Dichelobacter nodosus

Question 6

what are the mechanical causes of laminitis in cows?

Answer 6

overgrowth
standing on concrete

Question 7

what does white line disease look like?

Answer 7

abscessation, hemorrhage, or fissure in white line
acute, severe lameness without swelling

Question 8

when does a sole ulcer appear?

Answer 8

6-8 weeks after problem

Question 9

what is the normal growth rate of the hoof?

Answer 9

6 mm/month

Question 10

what percentage of the lameness is in the foot?

Answer 10

99%

Question 11

what percentage of lameness is in the rear foot?

Answer 11

92%

Question 12

what can you use for pain management for lameness in cows?

Answer 12

aspirin: not effective
flunixin: less for orthopedic, withdrawal
meloxicam: best, extended withdrawal

Question 13

what is required for foot rot to occur?

Answer 13

preevious injury to interdigital skin

Question 14

what does foot rot present as?

Answer 14

acute lameness, mild to severe
fissures in interdigital skin
swelling
characteristic odor

Question 15

how can you treat foot rot?

Answer 15

parenteral antibiotics
debridement
foot bath
clean environment

Question 16

when is there increased risk of hairy heel warts/digital dermatitis?

Answer 16

chronic moisture
purchased additions

Question 17

what do hairy heel warts/digital dermatitis present as?

Answer 17

circumscribed, sensitive, “pink terry cloth” lesions usually on plantar surface above heels
severe lameness
high morbidity

Question 18

how can you treat hairy heel warts?

Answer 18

topical tetracycline under bandage
prevent: footbath, manage environment

Question 19

what happens in interdigital dermatitis/heel erosion?

Answer 19

elastase secreted which digests hoof keratin

Question 20

what are the signs of interdigital dermatitis/heel erosion?

Answer 20

inflammation of interdigital skin
mild swelling
fissures in heel bulbs
no lameness
may progress to heel erosion
may predispose to other causes of lameness

Question 21

how can you treat interdigital dermatitis/heel erosion?

Answer 21

pare abnormal tissue
apply drying agent
prevent: regular trimming, environmental management

Question 22

what periparturient hormones can cause laminitis?

Answer 22

gelatin protease enzymes
relaxin

Question 23

what is phase I of laminitis?

Answer 23

interruption of blood flow to corium leads to hypoxia, damage to dermal/epidermal junction, and failure of suspensory apparatus

Question 24

what is phase III of laminitis?

Answer 24

appearance of ulcers, white line abscesses, poor quality hoof horn and solar hemorrhages secondary to compression that occurs in phase II

Question 25

what are the chronic manifestations of laminitis?

Answer 25

overgrowth
hemorrhages into white line or sole
double soles
horizontal ridges
white line disease
sole ulcers

Question 26

how can you treat white line disease?

Answer 26

pare abscess
block opposite claw

Question 27

why does a defect in keratogenesis occur in sole ulcers?

Answer 27

secondary to corium ischemia

Question 28

what are the clinical signs of sole ulcers?

Answer 28

circumscribed loss of horny sole beneath P3 flexor tuberosity
exposed corium attempts to heal with protruding granulation tissue
may become infected
severe lameness

Question 29

what is deep sepsis of the foot?

Answer 29

ascending infection secondary to abscess, foot rot, ulcer, or puncture wound

Question 30

what are clinical signs of deep sepsis of the foot?

Answer 30

severe lameness
swelling above the claw (one claw, not two)

Question 31

how can you treat deep sepsis of the foot?

Answer 31

claw amputation
ankylosis and joint fusion
cull

Question 32

what is ankylosis?

Answer 32

joint drilled from site of lesion to point on dorsal aspect of hoof proximal to coronary band