Treating Laminitis In Dairy Cows

Though there is no effective treatment for laminitis edwards says consistent bunk management and using adequate step up rations can help prevent it.

Treating laminitis in dairy cows.

Laminitis has been described in many species but is most common in equine and bovine. Lameness in dairy cows may be due to infectious diseases or disruptions of normal claw growth. Although bovine laminitis is most common in dairy cows it has been reported in all ages and sexes. Edwards also spoke about downed cattle.

To feed carbohydrates correctly fiber levels must be measured using neutral detergent fiber ndf and acid detergent fiber adf values. The functional approach to claw trimming allows for correction of claw problems. Proper foot trimming is essential to prevent and manage claw problems. The greeks aristotle associated equine laminitis with indigestion.

Treatment for subclinical laminitis is impractical because diagnosis in an individual animal is not possible at the time of the causative insult s. Rations that lead to acidosis are followed by laminitis but this is difficult to manage when the largest percentage of diets for dairy cattle contain carbohydrates. Laminitic lesions of the claw are not always a result of poor feeding practices. The greek name of the disease kritiasis relates to overfeeding of barley.

Correct grain overload keeping the animal moving and the claws cool. Injectable diphenhydramine 0 5 to 1 0 mg kg iv im. The first priority he says is to determine of the animal is down but alert or moribund.