Corolla phlegmon: causes and symptoms, treatment of cows, prognosis and prevention

Inflammatory process in the hoof corolla and adjacent skin, accompanied by the formation of pus, is called phlegmon. The disease often occurs in cattle, so it is important to take care of prevention, regularly inspect the hooves, check their integrity. With timely therapeutic measures, the cow recovers quickly, with neglected corolla phlegmon, necrotic processes occur in the tissues, and the risk of blood poisoning increases.

Causes of disease

The corolla - the area above the upper edge of the horny part of the hoof - becomes inflamed when an infection enters.Infection occurs with scratches (even small ones), fractures, uncomfortable position of the hoof, accompanied by compression of nerve fibers. A cow walks in the mud in a pasture, is in an uncleaned stall, and as a result begins to limp.

Corolla phlegmon occurs when a cow's immunity is weakened, the body cannot normally fight an infection that has penetrated inside. Animals often scratch the skin over their hooves, but as long as the immune system is strong, staphylococci and streptococci, the main causative agents of inflammation, are not dangerous. When the cow is weak, malnourished, the inflammatory process can begin even due to a micro-scratch.

The causative agent of phlegmon may be more dangerous infections. For example, foot and mouth disease.

Symptoms and signs

The course of corolla phlegmon is not the same, it depends on the physical condition of the animal and the degree of spread of the infection. The formation of phlegm does not depend on the breed of cows, the size and thickness of the hooves.In many cases, the growth on the rim of the hoof is an abscess. It is enough to open it, then apply drug therapy so that the cow recovers quickly. With deep penetration of the infection, inflammation captures fatty tissue, skin, hoof border, extends to the part of the limb above the rim and to the gap between the fingers. In this case, phlegmon is difficult.

The development of corolla phlegmon is fast. At the initial stage, the cow is lame, because there is pain in the affected area when walking. If you touch the diseased area, the animal will shudder and moo. Further, the following symptoms of phlegmon appear:

• swelling of the affected area, accumulation of fluid, and then purulent exudate;
• increased body temperature;
• breathing;
• tachycardia;
• hot to the touch limb skin;
• detachment of hoof horn plates;
• reducing the gap between the fingers due to swelling and filling of tissues;
• hardening of tissues at the site of inflammation (with the treatment started, softening will begin after a few days);
• the formation of purulent ulcers (many burst, ripening in a few days);
• discharge of blood-purulent exudate spreading infection to surrounding tissues;
• staggering when walking, weak leaning on the inflamed limb;
• lack of appetite;
• predominantly lying down;
• lethargy, depression, reduced milk production.

Disease diagnosis

The veterinarian is doing the examination. Examines the cow's hooves, evaluates the degree of swelling, reveals wounds and scratches that led to inflammation of the corolla. Checks how mobile the joints are. Measures the general body temperature of the animal, and also determines by touch how hot the skin of the lower part of the limb is.

If the examination raises doubts about the diagnosis, the veterinarian takes blood from the cow for analysis. Phlegmon is indicated by an increased level of leukocytes in the blood. We are talking about neutrophilia, confirming the presence of extensive purulent inflammation.

In addition to a blood test, you can perform arthropuncture - pierce the joint capsule with a needle to take exudate for laboratory analysis.

After the diagnosis is made, the veterinarian prescribes the treatment. If the phlegmon of the corolla is provoked by another infectious disease, then the treatment will consist of two stages. First you have to cure the underlying disease.

Methods of treatment of corolla phlegmon in cattle

How to treat corolla phlegmon, the veterinarian determines, taking into account the depth of infection and the neglect of inflammation. If the infection is localized in the corolla, has not spread to neighboring tissues, then the treatment should be to extinguish the inflammatory reaction. To do this:

• Ichthyol ointment is applied to the diseased area;
• put intravenous injections of novocaine and antibiotic;
• the inflamed area is treated with a solution of the drug "Furacilin".

In an advanced case, you have to perform a surgical operation - open the swollen area above the purulent bladder, remove tissues that have undergone necrosis.

Next, you need to disinfect the wound: carefully treat with hydrogen peroxide, after drying, apply the powder "Oxytetracycline" and "Sulfadimezin". Streptocide is also suitable for treating a wound. Bandage the wound, keep the bandage for 4-5 days. If the condition of the cow does not improve, the symptoms persist and intensify, then you need to unwind the bandage, see what is happening with the wound.

It happens that there is a repeated festering of the corolla, which has to be opened again surgically.

In parallel with surgical measures, antibiotic therapy (penicillin blockade) and anesthetic (novocaine) are carried out. They put intravenous injections, and also carry out a blockade with the indicated drugs every 2-3 days: circular (drugs are injected a little above the inflamed area) or interdigital, less painful (injected into the subcutaneous tissue over the gap between the hooves). Antibiotic therapy should last at least 5 days.

Forecast and prevention

With timely and proper treatment, the cow recovers in a few days.

Ignoring the problem leads to complications:

• inflammation of the coffin joint with accumulation of pus;
• tissue necrosis;
• extensive pododermatitis;
• sepsis;
• death.

To prevent phlegmon of the corolla, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive measures:

• examine the hooves of a cow daily, especially those that come from the pasture;
• Identified wounds should be immediately treated with an antiseptic;
• clean and trim hooves in time;
• grazing cattle in clean areas where it is impossible to stumble upon garbage and scrap metal;
• do not drive cattle to wet pastures;
• Regularly change bedding in the stall.

The main conditions for the he alth of cattle hooves are proper care and quality feeding with the use of supplements and vitamins to maintain immunity. Vitamin supplementation is especially important during the winter months, when the immunity of livestock is reduced due to a lack of green fodder and sunlight.

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