Cattle - Lameness Flashcards
(25 cards)
Infectious Causes of Lameness
Digital Dermatitis
Foot Rot
Interdigital Dermatitis/Heel Horn Erosion
Non Infectious Causes of Lameness
Sole Haemorrhage
Sole Ulcer
White Line Disease
Digital Dermatitis Causes
treponema spp - commensal in rumen
bacteria entry through wound
mechanical injury
wet environment
chemical trauma to foot
poor hygiene
Digital Dermatitis Signs
red clearly demarcated ulcers - severe
black/grey circular lesions - less severe
in the digital cleft
painful
Digital Dermatitis Prevention
foot bathing
clean dry surfaces
even surfaces without rocks
isolation of affected animals
Digital Dermatitis Treatment
topical abx spray
pain relief
culling
Foot Rot Causes
fusobacterium/dichelobacter - commensal gut bacteria
bacteria entry through breached skin
uneven surfaces
unclean environment
Foot Rot Signs
sudden onset lameness
lesions on sole
symmetrical swelling above coronary band
painful
Foot Rot Prevention
even surfaces with not rocks or sharp edges
environmental hygiene
regular trimming
foot baths
isolation of affected animals
Foot Rot Treatment
systemic abx
pain relief
isolate
culling
reevaluate if not resloved in 2-3 days
Interdigital Dermatitis/Heel Horn Erosion Signs
heel bulb erosion
mild dermatitis
usually found at routine trimming
doesn’t usually cause lameness unless spread to corium
Interdigital Dermatitis/Heel Horn Erosion Prevention
regular trimming
clean and dry surfaces
foot bath
Interdigital Dermatitis/Heel Horn Erosion Treatment
trimming
Sole Haemorrhage Signs
Bruising like lesion
Often found incidentally at trimming
Sole Haemorrhage Prevention
even walking surfaces
regular trimming
avoid negative energy balance
prevent overconditioning
Sole Haemorrhage Treatment
trimming
remove pressure on affected claw
NSAIDs if painful - response to hoof testers
Sole Ulcer Signs
Protrusion of corium at ulcer site – red/yellow/necrotic appearance
usually lateral claws of hindlimbs
at sites of pressure
chronic change to corium in severe cases
Sole Ulcer Prevention
uneven floors
prevent prolonged standing times
prevent negative energy balance
avoid overconditioning
Sole Ulcer Treatment
trimming and blocks to relieve pressure on site
NSAID
rest
cull if chronic change
White Line Disease Signs
variety of lesions at white line - weaker horn than rest of sole
not always painful to hoof testers
White Line Disease Prevention
even surfaces
avoid sharp turns
hoof trimming
mineral supplementation
White Line Disease Treatment
remove loose horn
blocks to relieve pressure
NSAIDs if painful to hoof testers
rest
Lameness Scoring
0 - good mobility - even weight bearing, long strides
1 - imperfect mobility - shorter strides or uneven gait, not clear which leg - routine preventative trimming
2 - impaired mobility - shortened stride, clear which leg - treat as soon as practical, trimming
3 - severely impaired mobility - clear which leg, falling behind herd, not able to keep up with brisk human walk - trimming, rest, NSAIDs, may need culled
Notifiable diseases causing lameness
bluetongue
foot and mouth
epizootic haemorrhagic disease
vesicular stomatitis
