Lame - bovine less common causes of foot lameness Flashcards
What can foreign body penetrations cause in cows feet?
Sub-sole abcesses
How can you harden the feet?
Foot bathing with formalin
What causes heel and toe ulcers (not in sole ulcer site)?
Overgrowth of toe
Penetration of sole
Fissures
Iatrogenic
What is toe necrosis usually secondary to?
Toe ulcer
Or split in the horn
What is the treatment/prognosis for toe necrosis?
Extensive remodelling
Guarded prognosis
What can cause acute laminitis in cows? Is it common?
Acute toxic condition releasing endotoxins
Eg. ruminal acidosis, mastitis, metritis
Very rare
What are the clinical signs of acute laminitis in cows?
Severe lameness in all 4 feet
Weight on heels
Unwilling to move
How do you treat laminitis in cows?
Deep bed
NSAIDs
What can cause sole bruising in cows?
Turning sharply on hard surfaces
Rough concrete
Standing in water/slurry for long periods
Dismounting when bulling
How do you diagnose sole bruising?
On examination - diffusely over whole sole
Pinch with hoof testers
What is slurry heel?
Heel erosion
What causes heel erosion?
Standing in wet corrosive faeces and silage
What are the clinical signs of heel erosion/slurry heel?
Usually asymptomatic
But often accompanies other diseases
How do you treat heel erosion/slurry heel?
Formalin foot baths
Trimming to restore foot balance
What is the prognosis of heel erosion?
Good if treated early
What happens if heel erosion is not treated?
Heel disappears
Backward rotation of foot
Overgrowth of toe
Sole ulceration
What causes sand cracks/vertical fissures to occur?
Hot dry sandy conditions in the summer
Damage to the periople
Damage to coronary band
Why can damage to the periople cause sand cracks?
It produces a waxy layer than prevents wall drying out
How do you treat sand cracks?
Trim out crack
Drain abscesses
Block
What is the prognosis for sand cracks in cows?
Moderate - can be difficult to treat as takes long time to grow out
Poor - if coronary band/periople damaged
What are horizontal fissures also called?
Hardship lines
What can cause horizontal fissures?
Severe toxic condition
What are the clinical signs of horizontal fissures?
Asymptomatic unless
Laminae get infected
Movement causes granulomas
Break off when grow out
What is the treatment/prognosis of horizontal fissures?
Trim cracks
Drain abscesses
Difficult if all 8 claws are affected - can be poor prognosis
What can cause interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?
Chronic irritation/infection/impaction of the interdigital area - two small flaps of skin
Chronic floot lesions
Poor conformation/abnormal gait
What are the clinical signs of interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?
Usually asymptomatic
Lameness if infected or pinching when walking
How do you treat interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?
Antibiotics if infected
Trim horn from interdigital space
Resect under local anaesthesia
What is the prognosis for interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?
Good but recurrence is common
What often causes fracture of the distal phalanx?
Following a fall or sudden impact onto hard surface
Eg. bulling
What are the clinical signs of fracture of the distal phalanx?
Acute onset lameness
Cross legged stance to reduce weight on affect claw
How do you diagnose fracture of the distal phalanx?
Difficult - diagnosis by exclusion, no other lesions on foot
What is the treatment for fracture of the distal phalanx?
NSAIDs
Rest in deep straw
What causes deep digital sepsis?
Other diseases
eg. sole ulcers
Foul
Fissures
What is the treatment of deep digital sepsis?
Digit amputation
If a cow is walking on an overgrown claw, what structure is at risk of being damaged?
Corium
What structure protects the corium from pinching by P3?
The digital cushion
Where is P3 most mobile?
Most caudal point above digital cushion
Which claw takes the most bodyweight?
Front foot - inner claw
What claw do we see most lameness in cattle?
Hind foot – outer claw
How quickly does a white line lesion grow out?
5mm a week
