The influence of calving and puerperium on clinical and histopathologic changes associated with laminitis and sole ulceration in a group of first-calving cows.
The left hind and front claws of 43 heifers having recently calved were studied for signs of laminitis and sole ulceration. The left hind and front claws of 8 non-pregnant heifers served as controls. Thirty claws were selected for histologic examination. No influence of parturition and puerperium was found on signs of laminitis in both clinical and histologic investigations. A remarkable histologic finding was the occurrence of numerous vascular buds in the solar corium. It is suggested that the vascular buds may give rise to the glomus-like vascular clusters, which are commonly found in older cattle.
Boosman
R
R
Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000473:pathology*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*