lameness Flashcards
CA37-40
name 3 categories of factors affecting lameness
- management
- environment
- nutrition
which part of the cow’s foot takes the weight initially?
bulb of foot
name the part of the cow’s foot
spread and provide shock absorption aided by digital cushion;
take wight initially
bulb of foot
name the part of the cow’s foot
this is the junction between the hard rigid wall and the flexing sole and is an inherent weak point in the foot
white line
name the part of the cow’s foot
also known as the hairline and marks the junction between skin and horn;
hoof wall horn grows from here
coronary band
name the part of the cow’s foot
fastest point of growth or slowest wear when housed
toe
name the part of the cow’s foot
slowest point of growth or fastest point of wear
heel
name the part of the cow’s foot
needs to be at least 8mm thick to withstand bruising and stone penetration
sole
name the part of the cow’s foot
a shock absorber within the claw
digital cushion
name 4 aims of commercial hoof trimming
- prevent discomfort/lameness
- detect/correct lesions
- improve mobility
- do no harm
this is the internationally accepted approach to effective claw trimming which is best implemented following professional training
Five-Step Dutch Trimming Method
name 5 principles of foot trimming
- correct toe overgrowth to correct foot angle
- spare the heel, leave sole thickness
- allow the walls to bear most weight (take weight off the sole ulcer site)
- remove weight from painful claws
- remove dead or diseased horn
describe the aim of step 1 of the 5-step Dutch Trimming Method
foot angle closer to 48-52°
describe the aim of step 2 of the 5-step Dutch Trimming Method
50:50 weight bearing between claws
describe the aim of step 3 of the 5-step Dutch Trimming Method
redistribute weight onto the walls, toe triangle and heel bulbs
describe the aim of step 4 of the 5-step Dutch Trimming Method
create a height difference with a painful claw
describe the aim of step 5 of the 5-step Dutch Trimming Method
remove loose horn and ridges
which aim of the 5-step dutch trimming method is achieved by these actions?
- cut stabilising claw to correct length (medial/lateral foreclaw)
- trim excess sole at toe until 6-7mm step is left (white line rejoins at toe) SPARE THE HEEL
measure and cut stabilising claw to appropriate length;
measure from where the horn goes palpably hard
foot angle closer to 48-52°
(step 1)
which aim of the 5-step dutch trimming method is achieved by these actions?
rebalance opposite partner claw - length, level in toe, balance in heel
sometimes impossible to achieve
50:50 weight beaing between claws
(step 2)
which aim of the 5-step dutch trimming method is achieved by these actions?
remodel out the centre sole of the outside hind claw (deep and wide), steep and narrow for inside;
spare toe triangle
redistribute weight onto the walls, toe triangle and heel bulbs
(step 3)
which aim of the 5-step dutch trimming method is achieved by these actions?
block and/or trim down back 2/3 of dynamic cow
create height difference with a painful claw
(step 4)
which aim of the 5-step dutch trimming method is achieved by these actions?
only remove loose horn in heel erosion and lesions causing lameness;
use hoof testers;
prevent stone traps
remove loose horn and ridges
(step 5)
which single measurement is most predictive of sole thickness?
dorsal wall length
(measured from where horn is palpably hard to tip of the toe)
what is the optimal toe length from top of hard horn along dorsal wall junction with axial wall for a standard Holstein?
80mm
name the 4 current best practice recommendations for when routine trims/inspections should be done on cows’ feet
- at/around dry off
- 70-100 days in milk
- new cases of lameness
- block rechecks at 6 weeks
what is the number 1 foot trimming mistake made with cattle
toe length cut too short
name 3 other common foot trimming mistakes made with cattle
(besides cutting toe length too short)
- over trimming of the sole
- using the grinder on the walls (axial and abaxial)
- not making enough use of the hoof testers
foot lesions should be recorded using how many zones in a hoof map?
zones 1-6
foot lesions in cattle should be graded on a scale of what?
1-4
name the foot lesion grade (scale of 1-4)
mild, incidental, not painful
1
name the foot lesion grade (scale of 1-4)
painful, requires treatment
2
name the foot lesion grade (scale of 1-4)
needs repeat treatment, see again
3
name the foot lesion grade (scale of 1-4)
refer to vet
4
name the foot lesion in cattle
Tx: corrective trim, care not to make matters worse by making soles thin
consider ways to reduce standing times on concrete and hardening horn
if only 1 claw affected, apply block to healthy claw
rest the cow
sole bruising and thin soles
name the foot lesion in cattle
Tx: relieve the weight on the affected claw or if the other clow is healthy, apply a block,
remove the collar of horn,
be hygienic,
pain relief,
do NOT remove the prolapsed corium
sole ulcer
lameness cure in cattle is maximised by using what medical treatment in addition to the common practices of therapeutic trimming and elevating the diseased claw using a block when cows are newly and predominantly mildly lame
NSAID
what is the opitmum length of lying time for cattle?
12-14 h/day
name 4 types of cattle herds that are likely to have NO sole ulcers
- straw yard
- extended grazing
- small herds with short milking times
- beef sucklers!
what happens to horn growth at calving?
slows and almost stops
what happens to hoof wear at calving?
increases
what happens to pedal bone movement at calving?
increases
name 5 indications for digit amputation in cattle
- traumatic injury to hoof
- severe penetrations to the sole
- sepsis and septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint
- septic tenosynovitis of the deep flexor tendon
- osteomyelitis of the third phalanx
name the disease affecting cattle feet
highly contagious bacterial disease;
most common foot lesion affecting dairy cattle across most of world;
welfare concern
digital dermatitis (DD)
what is the most common type of bacteria causing digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle?
Spirochaete
(Treponema spp)
what is the most common scoring system used for digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle?
based on macroscopic lesion characteristics
6 stage ‘M’ scoring system
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
no sign of preexisting lesion;
normal skin
M0
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
small (<2cm across) focal active state; circumscribed lesion; surface is moist, ragged, mottled red-gray with scattered small (1mm diameter) red foci
M1
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
larger (>2cm across) ulcerative active stage;
extensively mottled red-gray;
can be painful upon manipulation
M2
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
healing stage;
typically seen within a few days after abx treatment;
ulcerated surface is now transformed to a dry brown, firm rubbery scab;
no pain on manipulation
M3
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
chronic stage;
surface is raised by tan, brown, black, rubbery, irregular, proliferative hyperkeratotic growths that vary from papilliform to mass-like projections
M4
name the M stage of digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle
chronic stage with small active painful M1 focus
M4.1
what is the current best practice treatment for digital dermatitis in cattle?
licensed topical antibiotic spray
name the most effective way of bringing digital dermatitis infections under control quickly in a cattle herd
blitz treatment
name the 3 main ways to prevent digital dermatitis on farm
- biosecurity
- hygiene
- footbathing
name the 3 pronged approach to controlling digital dermatitis
- keep it out
- don’t let it spread
- build resilience
name the infectious foot condition in cattle
whole foot is swollen;
characteristic smell;
caused by bacteria which enterthrough broken skin between the claws
foul of the foot
name the infectious foot condition in cattle
caused by enzymes produced by certain bacteria which erode the horn at the heel;
severe forms can lead to deep pits and grooves;
useful weight-bearing surface of the foot is lost and the condition can be sore in its own right
heel horn erosion (HHE)
(aka slurry heel)
name the foot condition in cattle
protruding flesh (fibrous tissue) between toes;
caused by any chronic irritation (e.g. by the bacteria responsible for heel erosion or foul);
can become super-infected with digital dermatitis
interdigital hyperplasia/growth (IH)
how long should a footbath be?
long enough so each foot is submerged twice
should you use antibiotic or disinfectant footbaths?
disinfectant
how often should the footbath be cleaned and fresh solution made up for dairy cows?
after each milking
what is teh estimated number of lameness cases for every 100 cows?
25
what cause of lameness in cattle has the highest cost?
solar ulcer
what is the average increase in calving interval for cows with a claw horn lesion?
40 days
what is the average increase in calving interval for a cow with a digital lesion?
10 days
what is the average cost per case of lameness in cattle?
£100-250
what scale is used for locomotion scoring
1-5
what is the predicted milk yield loss for a cow with a locomotion score of 3?
5%
what is the predicted milk yield loss for a cow with a locomotion score of 4?
17%
what is the predicted milk yield loss for a cow with a locomotion score of 5?
36%
this is a four point industry standard for assessing, measuring and monitoring mobility and lameness in the dairy herd;
can assist farmers in identifying and prioritising cows that may benefit from treatment
AHDB Mobility Score
name the AHDB Mobility Score
walks with even weight bearing and rhythm on all 4 feet, with a flat back;
long, fluid strides possible;
no action needed
0
name the AHDB Mobility Score
steps uneven (rhythm or weight bearing) or strides shortened;
affected limb or limbs not immediately identifiable;
could benefit from routine (preventative) foot trimming
1
name the AHDB Mobility Score
uneven weight bearing on a limb that is immediately identifiable and/or obviously shortened strides (usually with an arch to the centre of the back);
likely to benefit from treatment;
foot should be lifted to establish the cause of lameness;
should be attended to as soon as practically possible
2
name the AHDB Mobility Score
unable to walk as fast as a brisk human pace (cannot keep up with the healthy herd);
lame leg easy to identify - limping, may barely stand on lame leg;
back arched when standing and walking;
very lame;
requires urgent attention, nursing and further professional advice;
cow should not be made to walk far and kept on straw yard or at grass
3
what is the main disease causing sole ulcers and white line disease?
20-60% of lameness cases
claw horn disease
what is the main disease causing foul in the foot and digital dermatitis?
5-30% of lameness cases
skin disease
name the 3 main aims of routine footcare in the cattle herd
- restore foot to normal shape
- correct weight-bearing
- remove overgrowth
name 4 times to AVOID carrying out routine foot trims in cattle
- heavily pregnant
- freshly calved
- about to be housed
- turned out on very long or abrasive tracks
how many cubicles shoukd you have for a herd of cattle?
one per cow plus 10% extra
explain how rumen acidosis leads to more diseases of the horn (of the foot)
acidosis leads to less vit B production (esp biotin) which is necessary for production of healthy horn
supplementing cattle diets with this has been shown to reduce white line disease
biotin
how long does it take to see the effects of supplementing cattle diets with biotin
4 months
what foot disease of cattle can be reduced by supplementing diets with biotin?
white line disease
