This randomized clinical trial investigated the effect of bandaging on 56 uncomplicated sole ulcers (SU) among a sample of 52 dairy cows. Following therapeutic hoof trimming and povidone-iodine treatment, all cows received a wooden block on the unaffected claw and were randomly assigned into either a bandaged or non-bandaged group. The bandaging process was standardized and applied by the same veterinarian. Wound size and locomotion were measured weekly. Overall, 19 of 32 SU (59.4%) in the non-bandaged group were healed at week 4 compared to 7 of 24 ulcers (29.2%) in the bandaged group. Healing was significantly higher for non-bandaged than bandaged SU (P = 0.024). Bandaging had no effect on locomotion (P = 0.9). Cows with a lower locomotion (Sprecher 1 + 2) had significantly smaller lesion sizes (median lesion size, 0.5 cm², IQR = 0.21 to 0.92 cm²) than animals with locomotion score 3-5 (median lesion size, 0.9 cm², IQR = 0.42 to 1.81 cm²; P < 0.001). A multivariate cox proportional hazard regression indicated that bandaging and parity had a significant effect on healing. Specifically, bandaged SU had a significantly lower hazard ratio (HR) to cure compared to non-bandaged SU (HR = 0.32; P = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.78). Furthermore, cows with parity ≥3 had a significantly higher HR to cure compared to cows in their first lactation (HR = 2.73; P = 0.025; 95% CI = 1.14 to 6.56).
Keywords: Bandage; Dairy cattle; Lameness; Povidone-iodine; Sole ulcer; Treatment.
© 2019 The Authors.