Toe Abscess
click on images for detail

Description

A toe abscess is a disease that is particularly prevalent in YEARLING CATTLE.

A foul smelling liquid oozes from a hole in the apex of the claw. (See anatomy) (click image)

Many die.

Affected calves experience extreme pain, become toxic, lose condition, don't feed and eventually refuse to rise.

The tip of the toe bone starts to rot. In the photograph on the left it can be seen that an area of rotten tissue at the toe is open to the outside. (click image)

Cause

The cause of this condition has yet to be proven. Many producers are convinced that the condition occurs when excitable calves are driven over abrasive surfaces and scrape the horn from their toes.

Swedish veterinarian, Christer Bergsten, has found that in many cases there was no opening to the outside. He also found that several calves also had one or more double soles. This is usually considered to be one of the signs of laminitis. Click on the photograph to the right to have a better explanation. (click image)

Canadian veterinarian, Eugene Janzen, has observed that many calves grazing irrigated pastures in the fall are found later to have toe abscesses. Although this is only a field observation, it supports the hypothesis that there is a nutritional factor involved.

Treatment

Treatment is not cost-effective in yearling steers.

Some workers pare away the dead tissue, apply a topical antibiotic and bandage.

This procedure is painful for the animal and has a negative effect on weight gain.

This condition has just been reported to me as occurring in valuable young bulls. In these cases a veterinarian could decide to cut of the tip of the toe with the enclosed necrotic bone. After allowing granulation to take place for a few days the tip of the claw can be covered with metyl methacrolate. This works for me with adult animals but the procedure has to be performed with care.

Control

Whenever possible, check the nutritional management of the source from which the animals were purchased.

Avoid purchasing any animals that have had a change in their ration during the last two months prior to shipping.

I believe this is a laminitis-like disease and that measures comparable to those used in other age groups should be considered..

I suspect there are more than one contributing factors to be considered.

Before animals are shipped

• Avoid sudden change (improvement) in feed prior to shipping.
• Avoid stimulating excitable animals in case they injure their feet.

When animals arrive

• Handle them quietly Allow 24 hours of quiet rest for every 24 hours in transit.
• Provide only water and hay for first seven days.
• Gradually introduce them to concentrate from 7 to 28 days.