Download Treatments of infectious bovine hoof diseases

Treatments of infectious
bovine hoof diseases
Dr. Matt Breed
Dr. Chuck Guard
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic
Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell
University
Infectious Foot Diseases

Foot Rot
• Fusobacterium
necrophorum &
Bacteriodes
melaninogenicus

Interdigital
Dermatitis
• Dichelobacter
nodosus
Infectious Foot Diseases

Digital Dermatitis,
Hairy Heel Warts,
Mortellaro
• Cause not proven
yet but spirochetes
strongly
incriminated
Foot Rot



Common in
environment and
manure
Usually requires
injury to
interdigital skin
Sudden onset,
acute disease
Interdigital dermatitis




Chronic infection of
interdigital skin
Moist caseous
exudate, sour odor
Skin responds by
hypertrophy
May spread to
heels and
undermine heel
horn
Digital dermatitis




Worldwide spread
in last 25 years
Highly contagious
within herd
Poor immune
response to
infection
Hair follicle primary
site of infection in
normal skin
TREATMENT

What are we trying to
treat?
• DISEASE
• LESION
• LAMENESS

Does treatment of
disease improve
lameness in a herd?
TREATMENT

Do we treat the hoof
lesion and/or
something else?
• Environment,
management, nutrition
etc
Lesion Treatments
Treatment Type
Footrot Interdigital
dermatitis
Digital
dermatitis
Topical
Antibiotic
+
Disinfectant
+++
+++
Systemic
Antibiotic
+++
-
-
+
+++
+++
Foot baths Antibiotic
disinfectant
Other areas of importance:


Regular correct
foot trimming
Clean, dry,
comfortable
animals
Other areas of importance:

Counting lame
cows:
• Same number as
the farmer
• Which groups
• What
lesions/diseases
present
• Specific area on
farm causing
lameness
Questions