Latest concepts relevant to treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle

Abstract

Digital dermatitis is one of the most common lesions causing lameness in dairy cattle, also affecting beef cattle and sheep. It is a highly infectious polymicrobial infection, with several species of treponeme implicated. Many treatments appear efficacious and given the animal appears the main reservoir of infection, there are strong arguments for proactive targeted treatment of cows with lesions leading to improved welfare, production and disease control. This article explores the antibacterial treatment options for digital dermatitis and some adjunctive therapies that can improve cure rates. Licensed topical antibiotics generally achieve a good outcome, but non-antibiotic alternatives may be preferable for ethical reasons and for chronic or mild lesions. There is a strong rationale for providing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation associated with infections. Optimal bandaging technique is still poorly understood and despite the evidence, opinion remains deeply divided on their use.