Effiiency of different therapeutic protocols in treating digital dermatitis in dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the topical action of oxytetracycline (OTC) and copper sulphate (CuSO 4) in digital dermatitis treatment (DD). A study was conducted on a high-yielding dairy herd, to estimate the topical antibiotic effect and non-antibiotic treatment of DD, with or without bandaging. Research was carried out on 171 Holstein cows with DD in this study. The cows were divided into four experimental groups and one control group. In all cases, surgical debridement of DD lesions was performed before treatment. Group 1 received local topical treatment with oxytetracycline three times, on the zero, second and fifth days, without bandaging. Group 2 received one topical treatment of oxytetracycline with bandaging. Group 3 received one topical treatment of 8% copper sulphate. Group 4 received one topical treatment of 8% copper sulphate, followed by bandaging. Group 5 was used as the control, to assess the possible effects of surgical debridement and bandaging. The most efficient result was obtained in Group 2, in which 86% of the animals recovered from DD. Bandaging is a very important part of DD therapy, because it protects the layers of skin exposed after surgical debridement.