Lameness in Beef Cattle
Veterinarian explains differences in lameness diagnosis and treatment.
Lameness has many causes and many treatments, says Jan Shearer, professor of Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM) at Iowa State University. He explained 12 different causes of lameness and corresponding treatment recommendations to attendees of the fourth annual International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare in Ames, Iowa, July 16-18.
Shearer said the feedyard industry has not done enough to address feet issues, especially because feet issues affect both welfare and performance of the animals. He also recommended to cattlemen that they describe feet issues more specifically to their veterinarians.
Claw lesions are not the same as sole abscesses. Sole abscesses are not specific enough, Shearer said. Knowing the actual problem allows veterinarians to determine how and where to treat. Most feet issues, he added, cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Here are the 12 diagnoses with recommended treatment options.
- 1. Sole ulcer — corrective trimming and attach a wooden block to the healthy claw to alleviate pressure on the damaged claw.
- 2. White line disease abscess — corrective trimming and attach a wooden block to the healthy claw.
- 3. Toe ulcer or toe abscess — corrective trimming of all damaged tissue, even bone if necessary. Attach a wooden block onto the healthy claw. Amputation of the front half of a toe can also work.
- 4. Foot rot — long-acting antibiotics will work. This is one of the few feet issues that can be corrected with antibiotics.
- 5. Digital dermatitis (also known as hairy heel wart, strawberry heel, etc.) — A footbath or topical spray can treat this, but Shearer said no systemic treatment works well.
- 6. Screwclaw — Corrective trimming works, but, he said, the condition is not likely to improve. Trimming is recommended every six months to a year.
- 7. Corn or interdigital fibroma — no treatment because this rarely causes lameness. Taking the corn out sometimes causes more problems, he noted.
- 8. Deep digital sepsis — This can be confused with foot rot, though antibiotic does not work for deep digital sepsis. With this, he said, normally only one side of the foot is affected, as opposed to the full foot swelling with foot rot. Deep digital sepsis could be operated on, but generally no treatment is effective.
- 9. Traumatic sole lesion — corrective trimming and attach a wooden block to the healthy claw.
- 10. Laminitis or founder — Euthanasia is recommended, because this is a metabolic condition, he explained.
- 11. Sand crack, vertical wall crack or horizontal wall crack — corrective trimming and attach a wooden block to the healthy claw. He noted that 80% of wall cracks occur on the outside front claw.
- 12. Contracted tendons — The treatment depends upon the severity, but splints or casts and time can work to relax the tendons. If the tendons do not relax, he recommended euthanasia.
