Lameness in Cattle & Horses, Septic Arthritis/Septic Physitis

Question 1

What is the gold standard for diagnosis of septic arthritis?

Answer 1

Microbiology

Question 2

When trimming hooves in cattle, the dorsal hoof wall (from the coronary band to the ground) should be roughly ____ inches, and the thickness of the sole should be roughly ____ mm

Answer 2

When trimming hooves in cattle, the dorsal hoof wall (from the coronary band to the ground) should be roughly 3 inches, and the thickness of the sole should be roughly 5-7 mm.

Question 3

At what age is S-type septic arthritis seen in foals?

Answer 3

<1 week

Question 4

What solutions should (and shouldn’t) be used for lavage in a case of septic arthritis?

Answer 4

Balanced electrolyte solution (LRS, Normosol) +/- DMSO

Do not add chlorhexidine, povidone iodine

Question 5

After surgical removal of an interdigital fibroma (corn), what suture pattern is typically used to close the site?

Answer 5

n/a

Leave wound open to heal by 2nd intention

Question 6

What organism is most commonly isolated in a case of septic arthritis?

Answer 6

Staphylococcus

Question 7

How do you treat sole abscesses in cattle?

Answer 7

Question 8

Does hairy foot wart occur more often in beef cattle or dairy cattle?

Answer 8

dairy cattle

Question 9

T/F: In a case of septic arthritis in adults and foals, it is important to check the umbilicus as a source of infection

Answer 9

False

Only in foals

Question 10

What is this? What are your treatment options?

Answer 10

vertical hoof wall crack

• If it is only superficial, you could debride
• Otherwise, treat with wooden block glued onto good digit (to take away the weight bearing on the cracked hoof)
  
  • ​See image below

Question 11

What is the main treatment modality used for hairy foot warts?

Answer 11

topical antibiotics

Question 12

Where are most lameness issues seen in cattle?

Answer 12

lateral hind foot

Question 13

Papillomatous Digital Dermatitis is also known as:

Answer 13

Hairy Foot Wart

• More common in dairy cattle
• Infectious agent - likely spirochete (Treponema)
• Highly infectious, Severe outbreaks
• 80% in plantar aspect of hind feet

Question 14

When is it acceptable to stop antibiotic treatment for septic arthritis?

Answer 14

Minimum 30 days and 2 weeks beyond resolution of clinical signs (whichever is longer)

Question 15

T/F: Arthrotomy is contraindicated in the treatment of septic arthritis in cattle.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

T/F: An appropriate treatment for chronic laminitis in a lame dairy bull is periodic corrective hoof trimming

Answer 16

True

Question 17

A corn is more formally known as:

Answer 17

interdigital fibroma

• Growth between digits
• Becomes ulcerated and painful +/- infected
• Happens in males > Females
• Treatment:
  
  • ​Hoof trim
  • Surgery - removal of corn

Question 18

What is the mainstay of treatment for septic arthritis?

Answer 18

LAVAGE

Early and often; large volumes (5-10 liters)

Question 19

What type of septic arthritis in foals typically presents with swelling, but usually without effusion?

Answer 19

P-type

Question 20

In cattle, the digit carrying more weight is generally more predisposed to injury. In the front limb, this is the ________ digit. In the hind limb, this is the ________ digit.

Answer 20

In cattle, the digit carrying more weight is generally more predisposed to injury. In the front limb, this is the medial digit. In the hind limb, this is the lateral digit.

Question 21

What are the three types of septic arthritis in foals?

Answer 21

S, E, P

Synovial, Epiphysis, Physis

Question 22

With what type of septic arthritis in foals might you be able to see subchondral lysis on radiographs?

Answer 22

E-type

Question 23

What’s that?

Answer 23

Sole abscess

Question 24

How often should hooves be trimmed in cattle?

Answer 24

every 6 months

Question 25

Where is this cow’s lameness?

Answer 25

Right Hind Lateral Digit

This is a typical stance with lameness (abscess) of the RH lateral digit

Question 26

Where is the lameness in this cow?

Answer 26

right front medial digit

Observe that he is putting weight on his right front lateral digit

Question 27

This is the most distal nerve block performed in the horse:

Answer 27

palmar digital nerve block

Question 28

Common shoeing/trimming prescription given for horses with caudal heel pain:

Answer 28

shorten/roll the toe​

Question 29

Forelimb lameness is often exacerbated when the horse is trotted in small circles. Exacerbation of a right forelimb lameness would be expected when the horse is trotted in this direction:

Answer 29

right

Question 30

The distal limb flexion test is performed to stress and help ID lameness in the horse. This specific flexion test not only places stress on the fetlock, but also these two joints:

Answer 30

pastern and coffin joints

Question 31

A horse displaying a head nod when head is “up” on right front limb contacts the ground is said to have a lameness associated with this limb:

Answer 31

right front limb

Question 32

Horses undergoing arthrodesis of this joint have an 80% prognosis for return to work:

Answer 32

hindlimb pastern arthrodesis

Question 33

This is the primary collagen found in tendons:

Answer 33

Type I

Question 34

When evaluating a horse for a hindlimb lameness it’s helpful to focus on this structure:

Answer 34

pelvis