Objective: The use of antibiotics is a proven approach for local and systemic treatment of digital dermatitis (DD). Even if they are administered only locally and at low dosage, their use should be restricted to an absolute minimum. The efficacy of a commercial polyurethane wound dressing in treating acute digital dermatitis was compared with topical treatment using a commercially available tetracycline spray and a salicylic acid paste.
Materials and methods: A total of 105 cows in a dairy farm (with about 160 dairy cows) were included in the study, with 101 cows needing topical treatment for digital dermatitis on one or both hind feet. All animals underwent hoof trimming prior to the treatment. Affected feet (n = 152) were randomly assigned to one of three comparable treatment groups. Topical treatment was administered to all visible digital dermatitis lesions. Animals in the positive control groups were given a topical treatment of tetracycline (53 DD lesions in 49 cows) or salicylic acid (53 DD lesions in 50 cows) formulations, whose therapeutic effects were scientifically verified. Spray was applied once, at a usual dosage and without any bandage. Salicylic acid paste was fixed in place with a bandage for 5 days. In the test group (46 DD lesions in 45 cows), a polyurethane bandage was left in place for 10 days. Whereas, 47 feet (from 38 cows) without lesions or with lesions showing no pain were designated as group 0. Each lesion was evaluated at day 0 during trimming, and on day 10 and 36. The lesions were scored based on severity and size.
Results: All groups showed a statistically significant improvement in the clinical appearance of the lesions at day 10. There were no significant differences in the findings between the second and the third evaluation (day 10 and day 36) either within a group or between the groups.
Conclusion: The use of an alternative treatment regimen like a polyurethane wound dressing shows good clinical healing, it is as effective as the conventional methods, and unlike the conventional methods, does not require a latency period.
Keywords: Dairy cattle; claw; polyurethane; salicylic acid; tetracycline; wound dressing.