Histopathology of the bovine pododerma in relation to age and chronic laminitis

The histopathology of chronic bovine laminitis was investigated in 20 rear lateral claws (from cows aged 2, 3, 4 and 5 years) with clinical signs of chronic laminitis and compared with a control group without signs of chronic laminitis. Five histological parameters were evaluated using a semiquantitative score. In all tissue samples examined the parameters were invariably indicative of chronic degenerative changes. However, statistical analysis demonstrated that the claws affected with chronic laminitis were not more severely affected with chronic degenerative changes than the control group. The number of arterio-venous shunts increased significantly with age. The typical ulceration place scored significantly higher than the other locations for four out of five parameters. From these findings it was suggested that chronic bovine laminitis may be solely induced by altered haemodynamics (ischaemia) in the digit.