Risk Factors and Prognosis of Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint in Dairy Cows

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the survival and the risk factors for arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in dairy cows. We used clinical records of 514 cows with claw horn disease and 45 cows with arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint over the past four years together with a questionnaire, and calculated the cure rate and survival time after surgery for arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint, and analyzed the risk factor. The cure rate of arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint treated by digital amputation were 61.1%, while that treated with topical treatment was 3.8%. The Kaplan-Meier estimate for median survival time for cows with arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint treated by amputation was 272d while that for cows treated by topical treatment was 21 days. Multiple regression analysis showed that days in milk:0‐60 (odds=3.05, 95%CI=1.32‐7.04) was a higher risk factor for arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint. It was reconfirmed that the cure rate and the survival time decrease markedly in case of arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint. It was also suggested that postpartum environmental and metabolic changes are associated with arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint.