Screwed up feet

[Imissmygirls]

IMHO, if you have trimmed those other species, you have a fair idea of hoof trimming in cows.
Try to see her when she is lying down with your dad with her. If you can do some trimming, I'd be inclined to say you likely won't do any more damage to her and may help her some. In my experience, we novice hoof trimmers never do as much as the professionals. We are too afraid to do damage. But any little bit helps and if you do a half-way job on her, it would help her adjust to when the professional does a thorough job. JMO.

BTW, DD MReit regularly trims baby calves' feet on the theory that it is the same as putting a baby in corrective shoes. Catch problems early and have the hoof/leg grow correctly.

 

[big brown horse]

The way she stands reminds me of a foundered horse.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Hmmm, I was told by the vet that cows don't founder, like a horse, but there is something basically similar and they act the same. I guess it's mostly the difference between the bred of animal to how it sets in.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Kitty, I think cows can founder, especially if they are on a high-grain diet. From the Cowdoc website:

Sub-Clinical Laminitis
click on images for detail

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Introduction

The information available on sub-clinical laminitis tends to be unreliable. Therefore, you are offered the "best-guess" scenario. This section contains an overview of the factors which may be involved in contributing to sub-clinical laminitis. You will note that there are many "links" to other topics. Careful study of each of these topics will be helpful in understanding how this disease works.


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Description
This is a disease affecting the small blood vessels between the claw capsule and the bone beneath. (See anatomy)

Bleeding starts in the layer of cells where the horn is created. The layer of blood takes up to three months to reach the surface. (click image)

Discoloration of the sole with blood is a finding many clinicians associate with this disease.

Discoloration of the sole can also be caused by bruising. Bruises tend to be purple in color, the sole is usually thin and flexible and is more likely to be painful when pressed.

The disease causes the animal discomfort as a result of which it walks and stands slightly abnormally. (see posture and gait) If the annual incidence of the following diseases exceeds 10%, the diagnosis of sub-clinical laminitis is likely. (click image)

White-line disease
Sole ulcer
Toe ulcer
Double sole
The reason these diseases are so common is that sub-clinical laminitis generates horn that is of softer texture than normal. (click image)

In herds in which this disease has become established for many years, changes will be be seen in the wall of the claw. (See horizontal grooves)





"Puffy feet" is a term applied by producers to a slightly pink and swollen band of skin above the coronary band and around dew claws.Puffy feet may only appear for a few hours, mostly in recently calved cows. It is accepted as an indication of an animal's failure to adjust to the consumption of concentrates. If the prevalence is high and/or puffy feet persist for more than 12 hours, the daily rate at which carbohydrate is being increased should be reviewed. (click image)


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Cause
Rapidly Fermenting Carbohydrates
The use of grains that ferment rapidly should be avoided. Some grains are more rapidly fermented than others, e.g., barley. The digestibility of grain may be increased by the manner in which it is processed. Ground and moist grains are more digestible than dry rolled grain.

When carbohydrates break down in the rumen, acids are produced.

When the intake of carbohydrates is particularly high, acidity increases faster than it can be neutralized by saliva (acidosis).

Useful bacteria in the rumen are destroyed and poisons (toxins) are released.

Toxins Work on the Blood Vessels in the Claws
The tiny blood vessels that supply the horn-producing tissues are very vulnerable to attack by toxin. Under the influence of toxins, the vessels may expand to increase the pressure inside the claw and cause discomfort.

The damage to the vessels causes clots to form, which in turn reduces the blood supply to the horn-producing tissues. In young animals, if the sub-clinical laminitis 'episode' is short, recovery can occur but the animal becomes very sensitive to further insults. (click image)

When the pressure is confined to the toe, the toe bone will 'rotate' and eventually penetrate the sole. (see toe ulcer)

Clots turn into scar tissue and this causes irreversible damage.

What about Fibre?
Depending on its quality, fibre acts indirectly as a buffer to neutralize rumen acids. Fibre stimulatrumination and the flow of saliva. A cow can produce up to 50 gallons of saliva each day. Saliva is rich in sodium bicarbonate.

The trick in managing acidosis involves maintaining a balance between carbohydrate and the fibre in forage. Different batches of forage have differences in the quality of fibre. Managing the balance is particularly difficult around calving time. (See troubleshooting dairy nutrition)

The Multifactorial Concept
In recent years most specialists believe that stress is also a very important factor.

It is found that in one herd, fed in a particular way, there is a problem, but in another "apparently" fed the same way, there is no problem. The answer is believed to be found in the manner in which management modified the behavior of the animals. This factor also involves cow comfort.

Nutritional factors of which there are several are of first importants. Other factors such as exercise, lying time, social confrontation and cleanliness all may play a part.


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Treatment
Sub-clinical laminitis cannot be treated as it is impossible to anticipate the onset of this condition. Attempting to prevent this disease is the only rational alternative.


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Control
In principle you must first look for either "a sudden change in nutrition" or "a critical imbalance" in the forage:concentrate ratio or perhaps an unexpected change in the quality of the forage.

How you feed, how often you feed, and how the feed is processed all have an important bearing on the end result. These changes can occur without the producer being aware that anything different has taken place.

Please familiarize yourself with: Troubleshooting dairy nutrition

After and only after you have thoroughly investigated every possible nutritional problem turn your attention to review the factors below:

Cow comfort
Behavior
If you are not already doing so initiate a program of claw trimming.

The implications of stress in a herd will become clearer if you consult the section dealing with herd investigation.

In many dairy herds the problems commence when the animals are heifers.

If this is the case review rearing replacement stock.

The Final Word
When a cow is lying down she is making money for you. More blood is passing through the udder each second and she is more likely to ruminate and produce saliva which netralizes the acid in the rumen.

A cow that can exercise will pump more nutrient and oxygen rich blood through the feet she will have more healthy feed than an animal that stands around with blood "pooling" in her feet.

Dairy producers need to understand this disease and should consult their veterinarian to develop a control protocol. Sub-clinical laminitis is a very complicated disease.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Yes, the vet said it is basically similar to what a horse gets but, there are a few differences--I'm not sure what anymore. But, basically it's the same.

 

[haviris]

Well thought I'd let you all know the cow is going to the vet tomarrow morning for a trim. So maybe we can get this under control without any lasting damage. And the calf's feet seem fine, but I guess time will tell!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Glad to hear her hooves will be taken care of. If there is anything more wrong the vet should be able to catch it.

 

[haviris]

We got it done, and they do look better! She had some abcesses starting so she got some antibiotics and we set up another appointment for three months from now. He said it was probably founder (so yes, it can happen to cows!), I asked about it being genetic, and I guess that's not really something he can answer, but he said it could be! Calf's feet look fine now, but we'll be keeping an eye on them. So she looks better, and I hope she feels better!

 

[laughingllama75]

huh! Well, I bet she feels a whole lot better. I wonder what the founder was from (predisposition, too much early green grass, too much grain)? Hope it doesn't happen again, glad you (your dad?) got it taken care of. I bet she is a happy cow now.

 

[wynedot55]

dont worry founder is not genetic.its caused from overeating.her calves will be fine to keep og you want to keep them.