Treating Laminitis In Dairy Cows

The greeks aristotle associated equine laminitis with indigestion.

Treating laminitis in dairy cows.

Although bovine laminitis is most common in dairy cows it has been reported in all ages and sexes. Laminitis has been described in many species but is most common in equine and bovine. The functional approach to claw trimming allows for correction of claw problems. Laminitic lesions of the claw are not always a result of poor feeding practices.

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. Correct grain overload keeping the animal moving and the claws cool. The first priority he says is to determine of the animal is down but alert or moribund. Nsaid non steroidal anti inflammatory drug injectable ketoprofen 2 to 4 mg kg im iv.

The greek name of the disease kritiasis relates to overfeeding of barley. To feed carbohydrates correctly fiber levels must be measured using neutral detergent fiber ndf and acid detergent fiber adf values. Edwards also spoke about downed cattle. Antihistamines may be useful e g.

Treatment for subclinical laminitis is impractical because diagnosis in an individual animal is not possible at the time of the causative insult s. Injectable diphenhydramine 0 5 to 1 0 mg kg iv im. Controlling subclinical laminitis see laminitis in cattle in a high production intensively managed dairy herd requires a systematic epidemiologic study.