Pathogenesis and Treatment of Toe Lesions in Cattle Including "Nonhealing" Toe Lesions

Abstract

Toe lesions in cattle include apical white line disease, thin soles, toe ulcers, toe necrosis, digital dermatitis-associated toe ulcers/toe necrosis, and fracture of the claw capsule and the apex of the distal phalanx. For anatomic reasons, the early stages of toe abnormalities (thin sole, apical white line disease, toe ulcer) are at risk of developing into a bone infection. The prevalence of toe lesions differs in dairy herds and feedlots: it is low at the animal level in feedlots and dairies; however, the herd prevalence of toe lesions can reach 50% in dairy herds with endemic digital dermatitis infection.

Keywords: Apical white line disease; Cattle; Digital dermatitis; Pedal bone necrosis; Thin sole; Toe necrosis; Toe resection; Toe ulcer.