Lame - causes of bovine lameness Flashcards
What are the 5 most common causes of lameness in cattle?
Sole ulcers
White line disease
Local sole bruising
Digital dermatitis
Foul in the foot
What is the cause of sole ulcers?
Relaxation of supporting structures of P3 bone allow claw overgrowth causing shallow dorsal wall angle
Corium pinches causing degeneration - coriosis
What is coriosis?
Disruption of normal horn production - degeneration of corium
What can increase risk of sole ulcer formation?
Standing on concrete
Thin cows
Poor foot conformation/no foot trimming
What are mild sole ulcers?
Sole haemorrhage - incorporation of blood into horn
What are severe sole ulcers?
Horn production completely arrested
What factors can cause pinching of the corium?
Hoof overgrowth
Underdeveloped digital cushion
Standing on hard surfaces
Relaxation of support structures at calving
Shape of P3
What part of P3 can do lots of pinching?
Flexor process - at plantar edge of P3
How do you treat sole ulcers?
Corrective trimming - reduce height of affected claw, dish out
Remove granulomas, affected horn
Foot block
NSAIDs
When is the prognosis of sole ulcers good?
If only simple horn overgrowth
When is the prognosis not so good for sole ulcers? When do they need regular corrective trimming?
Chronic coriosis
When is the prognosis of sole ulcers bad?
Deep digital sepsis
Chronic bony changes
How do you manage sole ulcers?
Regular foot trimming
Good underfoot conditions
What is the aetiology of white line disease?
Area of weakness
Impaction of dirt/stones - infection
White line seals - pus and infection trapped, pain
Pus breaks out at heel or coronary band
Where is the white line located?
Abaxial aspect
Also some of axial aspect - 1/3
What are the clinical signs of white line disease?
Lameness - pain
Swelling
Leg abducted to bear weight on medial claw - lateral claw most affected
What do white line lesions usually look like?
Small dark area in white line
How do you treat white line disease?
Trim and balance both claws
Explore, drain abcess
Remove underrun horn/wall
Foot block
NSAIDs
What is the prognosis of white line disease?
Good if simple sole abcess
More difficult if tracked up wall
Deep digital sepsis - bad
How can you prevent white line disease?
Control coriosis
Improve underfoot conditions
Avoid walking long distances on rough tracks - dont rush
Biotin in diet - harden
What is another name for foul in the foot?
Interdigital necrobacillosis
What is foul in the foot?
Opportunistic infection of fusobacterium through damage to interdigital skin
What are the clinical signs of foul in the foot?
Sudden onset severe lameness
Swelling of soft tissues in area and tracking up as infection invades
Split in skin with pus and necrosis
What is the treatment for foul in the foot?
Remove any foreign bodies
Wash and flush
Broad spectrum antibiotics - oxytetracycline, penicillin/streptomycin
NSAIDs
What is the prognosis of foul in the foot?
Good if treated early
Bad if untreated - deep digital sepsis
How can you prevent foul in the foot?
Improve underfoot conditions - increase mucking out
Formalin foot baths
What causes digital dermatitis?
Spirochete bacteria - treponema, T, phagadenis
How is digital dermatitis spread?
In the slurry, on foot trimming knives
What conditions do the bacteria causing digital dermatitis need?
Obligate anaerobes
Where is digital dermatitis found?
On the interdigital area BEHIND the heel bulbs
What is the appearance of digital dermatitis?
Small circular areas of exudate and epidermal liquefaction
Raw dermal granulation tissue if cleaned - very painful
Papilliform crusts/’warts’ form
Range of lesions
How do you treat individual cases of digital dermatitis?
Clean and dry the area - expose to air
Apply topical treatment
Repeated treatments
What topical treatments are there to treat digital dermatitis?
Antibiotics - oxytetracycline blue spray
Non-antibiotic - copper/zinc containing gels
How do you treat herd level digital dermatitis?
Foot baths - clean feet, treatment of formalin, copper sulphate
Frequently bath, long bath
Not antibiotic foot baths
What is the prognosis for digital dermatitis?
Good
Develop immunity over time
Eradication unlikely
How do you prevent digital dermatitis?
Improve environment hygiene
Clean foot trimming equipment
Foot baths - daily
Disinfectant
Quarantine new animals
What can be caused secondary to digital dermatitis?
Non healing claw lesions - very difficult to treat
