Grade-IV laminitis in Murrah buffalo: A case study

Abstract

Foot and leg deformities are among major health concern issues occurring in dairy cattle and buffaloes worldwide. Various factors that predispose to development of this condition in animals are nutrition/feeding, flooring, housing, environment and managemental conditions. Lameness in animals is a serious disorder affecting health and production status hence substantial economic losses to the farmer. The cases of laminitis are more complicated if wrongly treated or presented late causing more soft tissue damage thereby increasing cytokines and inflammatory cells. A delayed case of laminitis is discussed which was effectively managed by the use of systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, proteolytic enzymes along with local dressing of wound following pus removal. Supportive therapy with minerals/vitamins together with change in prevailing environmental conditions and a strict dietary restriction with exclusion of concentrate and increase in fibre portion helped in speedy recovery. However the cases of lameness tend to re-occur but recovery of about 75-80% in the animal condition was observed as evident by limb posture and locomotor ability.