Technique of hoof biopsy in cattle

By Murray, R. D. and Singh, S. S. and Ward, W.R., Veterinary Record, 1993
Research Paper Web Link / URL:
Description
Animals were restrained in a hoof paring crate, hooves were cleaned, pared and thoroughly washed with pevidine solution and the foot anaesthetised by injecting 10 to 15 ml of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride (Lignavet) 2 cm above the interdigital cleft in the midline on the dorsal and plantar aspects. Biopsies were taken from parietal (abaxial) and solar corium in each animal first from the left outer claw and 15 days later from the right outer claw. A hand drill with a 9/32" (7 mm) bit was used to make a hole in the wall horn without puncturing the underlying corium and a 3 mm disposable biopsy punch was used to penetrate into the laminae; after 6-8 rotations it was withdrawn. Biopsy material was fixed immediately. The hole was plugged with sterile gauze while a biopsy was taken from the solar corum in a similar fashion. The holes were finally plugged with Technovit (Kulzer). A single injection of streptomycin and penicillin (Streptopen) was given to reduce infection. Postoperatively the cattle were mildly lame for 2-3 days, no complications were seen after the second set of biopsies were taken 15 days later. The technique was used in 3 dairy cows and 2 bull calves and it is recommended that biopsies should only be taken from one foot at a time
We welcome and encourage discussion of our linked research papers. Registered users can post their comments here. New users' comments are moderated, so please allow a while for them to be published.

Leave a Reply