title: Recovery of chronically lame dairy cows following treatment for claw horn lesions: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: A positively controlled, randomised controlled trial (RCT) was undertaken to test recovery of cows with claw horn lesions resulting in lameness of greater than two weeks duration. Cows on seven commercial farms were mobility scored fortnightly and selected by lameness severity and chronicity. Study cows all received a therapeutic trim then random allocation of: no further treatment (trim only (TRM)), plastic shoe (TS) or plastic shoe and NSAID (TSN). Recovery was assessed by mobility score at 42 (±4) days post treatment by an observer blind to treatment group. Multivariable analysis showed no significant effect of treatment with an almost identical, low response rate to treatment across all groups (Percentage non-lame at outcome: TRM--15 per cent, TS--15 per cent, TSN--16 per cent). When compared with results of a similar RCT on acutely lame cows, where response rates to treatment were substantially higher, it can be concluded that any delay in treatment is likely to reduce the rate of recovery, suggesting early identification and treatment is key. Thirty-eight per cent of animals treated in this study were lame on the contralateral limb at outcome suggesting that both hindlimbs should be examined and a preventive or if necessary a therapeutic foot trim performed when lameness is identified particularly if the duration of lameness is unknown.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Remnant
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bollard
authors.affiliation: Formerly of: Farm and Equine Department, Scarsdale Veterinary Group, Markeaton Lane, Derby, DE22 4NH, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, BS40 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Whay
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Scotlands Rural College (SRUC), Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Huxley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006724:Hoof and Claw; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Clinical trials; Dairy cattle; Evidence-based medicine; Lameness; Treatment; Welfare
references.citation: Vet Rec. 2008 Jul 19;163(3):80-5
references.pmid: 18641376
references.citation: Vet J. 2012 Sep;193(3):622-5
references.pmid: 22883926
references.citation: Aust Vet J. 1997 Feb;75(2):132-5
references.pmid: 9066971
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2008 Oct;91(10):3888-95
references.pmid: 18832211
references.citation: N Z Vet J. 2008 Oct;56(5):210-7
references.pmid: 18836500
references.citation: Prev Vet Med. 2010 Jan 1;93(1):11-8
references.pmid: 19926151
references.citation: Res Vet Sci. 2010 Oct;89(2):311-7
references.pmid: 20363487
references.citation: Vet Rec. 2003 Aug 16;153(7):197-202
references.pmid: 12956296
references.citation: Vet J. 2012 Sep;193(3):626-32
references.pmid: 22884565
references.citation: Vet J. 2012 Sep;193(3):612-6
references.pmid: 22951250
references.citation: Vet J. 2014 Sep;201(3):283-8
references.pmid: 24881511
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2015 Jul;98(7):4477-86
references.pmid: 25981077
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2006 Aug;89(8):3052-8
references.pmid: 16840622