Heels

[SWMO]

We have a March 06 heifer that has very low heels and she is developing cracks on her heels.  Our hoof trimmer said to apply a topical Tetracycaline (sp) to her heels for a week.  Is this a bacterial infection or possibly a fungus.

Has anyone had any experience with something similar?

 

[cowz]

We are very DRY here, especially in the winter (low humidity) so we often see hoof cracks in cattle.  We clean the area with soap and water, let it dry, put some Kopertox on it, let that soak in, then top it off with a horse hoof dressing that has a lot of goo (emolients).  Seems to help the hoof cracks get enough moisture to repair themselves.

 

[afhm]

Sounds possibly like hairy heel wart.  Its very nasty.  I have used bleach to kill it as well as hoof rot.

 

[SWMO]

Not hairy wart I have seen that.  We have been very wet this summer as opposed to the last two years of extreme drought(but that is a different subject).  This heel issue seems more to be a fungus or bacteria situation.  She has not exhibited any lameness.

 

[knabe]

could be similar to horse scratches.  nasty.

http://ecochem.com/t_scratches.html