A toe abcess and the value of using hoof testers

A toe abscess with pus is not an uncommon finding. In this case a pain response was elicited when hoof testers were applied to the toe area. Hoof testers are vital when working with lame cows and I rely on them to help determine not only which claw is affected but also the location in that claw. A quick grind identified a minute white line defect and on further investigation, pus was released. Treatment involved removing all under run sole and applying a HH. Prepping of the other claws sole created a good amount of surface area on which to glue a HH. No antibiotics were used.

Foot rot with under run sole

This is an example of a classic foot rot that ended up with under run sole on one claw. A relatively simple fix of removing the under run sole and putting on a HH. It can be amazing just how far soles can be under run in some cases.

Sharp knives make all the difference

To keep our knives sharp, we use this heavy-duty bench grinder customized with a flap-wheel for the initial sharpening of the blade and then finish using the cotton cloth disc with a sharpening paste for bluffing the edge. We use a Dremel with a fine grinding bit to sharpen the hook. It works a treat, and we wouldn't be without it now. We rotate our knives on a regular basis, so they are always sharp. Using a grinder has meant we use our knives less, but we would still use a knife on every hoof. I would estimate that knife work now only accounts for half of what we do.