Healing process of uncomplicated sole ulcers in dairy cows kept in tie stalls: clinical description and biochemical investigations

A total of 74 dairy cows with 105 separate lesions were treated and the hea ling process was observed for half a year and the results compared with the biochemical data. The mean time for the formation of a closed layer of hor n was 25 days for lesions with slight corium alterations, 33 days for moder ate and 42 days for severe alterations. Thirty days after the initial treat ment 68% of all lesions were completely covered by a solid layer of new hor n. The further evaluation of the healing process was based on quality and r ate of the new horn formation, recovery from lameness and sensitivity to ho oftesters. Using these parameters the healing potential of exposed corium w as judged one month after treatment with a scoring system. The 30-day-heali ng process was considered to be good in 61% and moderate to bad in 39% of t he cows. The concentration of glucose, cholesterin, LDH and blood urea was increased in one third of the animals. Phosphorus and magnesium concentrati ons were lower than the reference values in 30%, and 26% of the animals, re spectively. Cows with prolonged healing had higher levels of bilirubin, cre atinkinase, LDH, ALT and AST than cows with a good healing process. Concent ration of iron, vitamin A and biotin were significantly lower in cows with moderate to bad healing parameters than cows with a good healing potential. From these results it is suggested that biochemical blood parameters and th e vitamin status might influence the healing of uncomplicated sole ulcers, respectively.