Septic Laminitis in Cattle

Septic Laminitis in Cattle is also known as septic traumatic pododermatitis or suppurative laminitis. It results when a foreign body punctures the solar corium directly. The result is invariably a purulent and necrotic infection of the damaged tissues which depends on the precise site of penetration.

Dorsal region

• The distal surface of the distal phalanx is most likely to be damaged.
• Osteomyelitis and pathological fracture may result of such a process.
• The animal may hold the affected limb off the ground and generalized trumbling noticed.
• In other cases which are less painful, paddling of feet may be noticed. When the abscess is relieved, pus usually pinkish yellow, spurts forth as a jet.
• Another type of lesion encountered in the dorsal region is small, hard to detect and caused by a sharp hared foreign body.

Sole, heel and junction region

• The deep flexor tendon, navicular bursa or navicular bone may be contacted by the foreign body.
• In superficial cases a tendency for the infection or pus to extend towards the heel bulbs causing complete detachment of the horn through the whole area over the bulb.
• The horn is softer and more pliable and may favour the relative ease of separation of the sole.

Plantar region

• Penetration is into the dense heel cushion of white fibrous tissue.
• Signs associated with this condition may be intermittent, sudden flexion of the affected limb in recumbency,
• acute pain of fluid under pressure between sensitive corium and sole,
• stilted gait to lameness.
• In bilateral cases affecting medial digits,the forelimb may be crossed.
• Swollen heel and necrosis of the superficial epithelium at coronary band.

Diagnosis

• Based on the History
• Examination of the foot

Differential diagnosis

• Simple trauma
• Distal phalanx fracture
• Inter digital necrobacillosis
• Pododermatitis circumspecta
• Pododermatitis profunda

Treatment

• Anaesthesia may not be required.
• The horn is naturally non sensitive and the underlying diseased laminae also appear completely desensitized in the presence of pus.
• In traumatic penetration the dark track must be followed down to its full depth. Discharges should be drained under pressure.
• Necrotic solar corium should be removed. Care must be taken to avoid healthy tissues, especially deep flexor tendon.
• The defect should be dressed with sulphonamide or antibiotic powder preceded by superficial spraying with a spirit based chloramphenicol preparation, packed firmly with a sterile gauze swab and cotton wool.
• The foot is bandaged and a water proof dressing applied.
• Special cases may be shod with a steel shoe supporting a 1-2 cm thick wooden shoe on the sound digit in order to avoid pressure on the damaged sole.
• Resin material can be used to raise the affected digit from the ground.
• In severe cases, where almost the entire sole has been stripped it is possible to drill the abaxial and axial wall and to thread embryotomy wire across the sole, then to pour the plastic on to form a thick slab.