Traumatic exungulation in cattle: ten cases (1993-2018).

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Bovine Surgery
• Podiatry

Background:

• Complete traumatic exungulation, a severe hoof injury in cattle, presents significant clinical challenges.
• Understanding treatment protocols and outcomes is crucial for managing affected animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the clinical presentation, management strategies, and prognosis for cattle experiencing complete traumatic exungulation.
• To evaluate the long-term functional recovery of cattle post-exungulation.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of medical records from two teaching hospitals (1993-2018) identified 10 cattle with complete traumatic exungulation.
• Data collected included signalment, clinical findings, treatments administered, and owner-reported outcomes via telephone follow-up.

Main Results:

• The study included 5 bulls, 4 heifers, and 1 cow, with a median age of 2 years. Lameness scores were high in most affected animals.
• Common treatments involved bandaging, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and hoof blocks. Surgical interventions like curettage were also employed.
• Of 7 cattle with long-term follow-up (≥ 9 months), all returned to their intended function, with most showing no residual lameness.

Conclusions:

• Complete traumatic exungulation in cattle has a fair to good prognosis for long-term survival and return to function.
• Prompt and appropriate treatment, including supportive care and potentially surgical intervention, is key to favorable outcomes.