ŠEPAVOST MLEČNIH KRAVA – UZROCI, OBLICI, TRETMAN

The objective of this study was to describe the complex etiopathogenesis, forms, prevention and treatment of lameness in dairy cows. Since inflammation of the hoof mostly affects cows that have superior milk performance, it poses major health and economic issues. Laminitis can take different forms and courses, classified as acute and chronic, deep and superficial, aseptic and septic. Aseptic subdermatitis is of much greater concern, as it is a metabolic disease of the hoof corium with degenerative changes in the corium and horn. Its common causes are stress associated with calving, imbalanced diet, incidence of acidosis or alkalosis, high milk production, and overloading of the hooves. This results in the production of toxins, particularly histamine, in the forestomachs, leading to vasoconstriction, followed by vasodilation within the hoof corium and, consequently, oedema, hyperaemia, the destruction of blood vessels in the corium, and, at a later stage, degenerative changes in the corium and horn. Lameness develops, depending on the degree of pathological changes. Therefore, the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of aseptic and septic laminitis are of major importance in managing the health and welfare of high-producing dairy cows.