Lame - causes of bovine lameness

Question 1

What are the 5 most common causes of lameness in cattle?

Answer 1

Sole ulcers
White line disease
Local sole bruising
Digital dermatitis
Foul in the foot

Question 2

What is the cause of sole ulcers?

Answer 2

Relaxation of supporting structures of P3 bone allow claw overgrowth causing shallow dorsal wall angle
Corium pinches causing degeneration - coriosis

Question 3

What is coriosis?

Answer 3

Disruption of normal horn production - degeneration of corium

Question 4

What can increase risk of sole ulcer formation?

Answer 4

Standing on concrete
Thin cows
Poor foot conformation/no foot trimming

Question 5

What are mild sole ulcers?

Answer 5

Sole haemorrhage - incorporation of blood into horn

Question 6

What are severe sole ulcers?

Answer 6

Horn production completely arrested

Question 7

What factors can cause pinching of the corium?

Answer 7

Hoof overgrowth
Underdeveloped digital cushion
Standing on hard surfaces
Relaxation of support structures at calving
Shape of P3

Question 8

What part of P3 can do lots of pinching?

Answer 8

Flexor process - at plantar edge of P3

Question 9

How do you treat sole ulcers?

Answer 9

Corrective trimming - reduce height of affected claw, dish out
Remove granulomas, affected horn
Foot block
NSAIDs

Question 10

When is the prognosis of sole ulcers good?

Answer 10

If only simple horn overgrowth

Question 11

When is the prognosis not so good for sole ulcers? When do they need regular corrective trimming?

Answer 11

Chronic coriosis

Question 12

When is the prognosis of sole ulcers bad?

Answer 12

Deep digital sepsis
Chronic bony changes

Question 13

How do you manage sole ulcers?

Answer 13

Regular foot trimming
Good underfoot conditions

Question 14

What is the aetiology of white line disease?

Answer 14

Area of weakness
Impaction of dirt/stones - infection
White line seals - pus and infection trapped, pain
Pus breaks out at heel or coronary band

Question 15

Where is the white line located?

Answer 15

Abaxial aspect
Also some of axial aspect - 1/3

Question 16

What are the clinical signs of white line disease?

Answer 16

Lameness - pain
Swelling
Leg abducted to bear weight on medial claw - lateral claw most affected

Question 17

What do white line lesions usually look like?

Answer 17

Small dark area in white line

Question 18

How do you treat white line disease?

Answer 18

Trim and balance both claws
Explore, drain abcess
Remove underrun horn/wall
Foot block
NSAIDs

Question 19

What is the prognosis of white line disease?

Answer 19

Good if simple sole abcess
More difficult if tracked up wall
Deep digital sepsis - bad

Question 20

How can you prevent white line disease?

Answer 20

Control coriosis
Improve underfoot conditions
Avoid walking long distances on rough tracks - dont rush
Biotin in diet - harden

Question 21

What is another name for foul in the foot?

Answer 21

Interdigital necrobacillosis

Question 22

What is foul in the foot?

Answer 22

Opportunistic infection of fusobacterium through damage to interdigital skin

Question 23

What are the clinical signs of foul in the foot?

Answer 23

Sudden onset severe lameness
Swelling of soft tissues in area and tracking up as infection invades
Split in skin with pus and necrosis

Question 24

What is the treatment for foul in the foot?

Answer 24

Remove any foreign bodies
Wash and flush
Broad spectrum antibiotics - oxytetracycline, penicillin/streptomycin
NSAIDs

Question 25

What is the prognosis of foul in the foot?

Answer 25

Good if treated early Bad if untreated - deep digital sepsis

Question 26

How can you prevent foul in the foot?

Answer 26

Improve underfoot conditions - increase mucking out Formalin foot baths

Question 27

What causes digital dermatitis?

Answer 27

Spirochete bacteria - treponema, T, phagadenis

Question 28

How is digital dermatitis spread?

Answer 28

In the slurry, on foot trimming knives

Question 29

What conditions do the bacteria causing digital dermatitis need?

Answer 29

Obligate anaerobes

Question 30

Where is digital dermatitis found?

Answer 30

On the interdigital area BEHIND the heel bulbs

Question 31

What is the appearance of digital dermatitis?

Answer 31

Small circular areas of exudate and epidermal liquefaction Raw dermal granulation tissue if cleaned - very painful Papilliform crusts/'warts' form Range of lesions

Question 32

How do you treat individual cases of digital dermatitis?

Answer 32

Clean and dry the area - expose to air Apply topical treatment Repeated treatments

Question 33

What topical treatments are there to treat digital dermatitis?

Answer 33

Antibiotics - oxytetracycline blue spray Non-antibiotic - copper/zinc containing gels

Question 34

How do you treat herd level digital dermatitis?

Answer 34

Foot baths - clean feet, treatment of formalin, copper sulphate Frequently bath, long bath Not antibiotic foot baths

Question 35

What is the prognosis for digital dermatitis?

Answer 35

Good Develop immunity over time Eradication unlikely

Question 36

How do you prevent digital dermatitis?

Answer 36

Improve environment hygiene Clean foot trimming equipment Foot baths - daily Disinfectant Quarantine new animals

Question 37

What can be caused secondary to digital dermatitis?

Answer 37

Non healing claw lesions - very difficult to treat