Lame - bovine less common causes of foot lameness

Question 1

What can foreign body penetrations cause in cows feet?

Answer 1

Sub-sole abcesses

Question 2

How can you harden the feet?

Answer 2

Foot bathing with formalin

Question 3

What causes heel and toe ulcers (not in sole ulcer site)?

Answer 3

Overgrowth of toe
Penetration of sole
Fissures
Iatrogenic

Question 4

What is toe necrosis usually secondary to?

Answer 4

Toe ulcer
Or split in the horn

Question 5

What is the treatment/prognosis for toe necrosis?

Answer 5

Extensive remodelling
Guarded prognosis

Question 6

What can cause acute laminitis in cows? Is it common?

Answer 6

Acute toxic condition releasing endotoxins
Eg. ruminal acidosis, mastitis, metritis
Very rare

Question 7

What are the clinical signs of acute laminitis in cows?

Answer 7

Severe lameness in all 4 feet
Weight on heels
Unwilling to move

Question 8

How do you treat laminitis in cows?

Answer 8

Deep bed
NSAIDs

Question 9

What can cause sole bruising in cows?

Answer 9

Turning sharply on hard surfaces
Rough concrete
Standing in water/slurry for long periods
Dismounting when bulling

Question 10

How do you diagnose sole bruising?

Answer 10

On examination - diffusely over whole sole
Pinch with hoof testers

Question 11

What is slurry heel?

Answer 11

Heel erosion

Question 12

What causes heel erosion?

Answer 12

Standing in wet corrosive faeces and silage

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of heel erosion/slurry heel?

Answer 13

Usually asymptomatic
But often accompanies other diseases

Question 14

How do you treat heel erosion/slurry heel?

Answer 14

Formalin foot baths
Trimming to restore foot balance

Question 15

What is the prognosis of heel erosion?

Answer 15

Good if treated early

Question 16

What happens if heel erosion is not treated?

Answer 16

Heel disappears
Backward rotation of foot
Overgrowth of toe
Sole ulceration

Question 17

What causes sand cracks/vertical fissures to occur?

Answer 17

Hot dry sandy conditions in the summer
Damage to the periople
Damage to coronary band

Question 18

Why can damage to the periople cause sand cracks?

Answer 18

It produces a waxy layer than prevents wall drying out

Question 19

How do you treat sand cracks?

Answer 19

Trim out crack
Drain abscesses
Block

Question 20

What is the prognosis for sand cracks in cows?

Answer 20

Moderate - can be difficult to treat as takes long time to grow out
Poor - if coronary band/periople damaged

Question 21

What are horizontal fissures also called?

Answer 21

Hardship lines

Question 22

What can cause horizontal fissures?

Answer 22

Severe toxic condition

Question 23

What are the clinical signs of horizontal fissures?

Answer 23

Asymptomatic unless
Laminae get infected
Movement causes granulomas
Break off when grow out

Question 24

What is the treatment/prognosis of horizontal fissures?

Answer 24

Trim cracks
Drain abscesses
Difficult if all 8 claws are affected - can be poor prognosis

Question 25

What can cause interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?

Answer 25

Chronic irritation/infection/impaction of the interdigital area - two small flaps of skin Chronic floot lesions Poor conformation/abnormal gait

Question 26

What are the clinical signs of interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?

Answer 26

Usually asymptomatic Lameness if infected or pinching when walking

Question 27

How do you treat interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?

Answer 27

Antibiotics if infected Trim horn from interdigital space Resect under local anaesthesia

Question 28

What is the prognosis for interdigital skin hyperplasia (fibromas, granulomas)?

Answer 28

Good but recurrence is common

Question 29

What often causes fracture of the distal phalanx?

Answer 29

Following a fall or sudden impact onto hard surface Eg. bulling

Question 30

What are the clinical signs of fracture of the distal phalanx?

Answer 30

Acute onset lameness Cross legged stance to reduce weight on affect claw

Question 31

How do you diagnose fracture of the distal phalanx?

Answer 31

Difficult - diagnosis by exclusion, no other lesions on foot

Question 32

What is the treatment for fracture of the distal phalanx?

Answer 32

NSAIDs Rest in deep straw

Question 33

What causes deep digital sepsis?

Answer 33

Other diseases eg. sole ulcers Foul Fissures

Question 34

What is the treatment of deep digital sepsis?

Answer 34

Digit amputation

Question 35

If a cow is walking on an overgrown claw, what structure is at risk of being damaged?

Answer 35

Corium

Question 36

What structure protects the corium from pinching by P3?

Answer 36

The digital cushion

Question 37

Where is P3 most mobile?

Answer 37

Most caudal point above digital cushion

Question 38

Which claw takes the most bodyweight?

Answer 38

Front foot - inner claw

Question 39

What claw do we see most lameness in cattle?

Answer 39

Hind foot – outer claw

Question 40

How quickly does a white line lesion grow out?

Answer 40

5mm a week