The Alberta Dairy Hoof Health Project

The Alberta Dairy Hoof Health Project
Lesion Severity Scoring Guide

Introduction:
This lesion severity scoring guide is intended for the use of hoof trimmers, in particular
those who are using the Hoof Supervisor® lesion recording system. The guide will assist
trimmers to more consistently score the severity of the lesions they observe, making it
possible to assess changes in severity from one trim session to the next.
Acknowledgements:
Dr. Paul Greenough prepared the initial version of the guide which was later revised with
input from hoof trimmers participating in The Alberta Dairy Hoof Health Project, namely:
• Elbert Koster • Philip Spence
• Robin Geier
• Matthew Hofstra
• Taco Hansma • Darren Bell
• Eric Bremer
Photographs were provided by:
• Dr. Paul Greenough, whose large library of photographs was assembled from those of
many international contributors
• Elbert Koster • Philip Spence
• Vic Daniel
• Dr. Dörte Döpfer, University of Wisconsin
• Dr. André Desrochers, Université de Montréal
For copies of this guide or to contribute photographs, contact:
AgroMedia International Inc, 2508 Charlebois Drive NW, Calgary AB T2L 0T6
phone: (403)284-5484, e-mail: steve@agromedia.ca, website: http://dairyhoofhealth.info
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Table of Contents
3
4
4
3
11 12
Axial (inside) view
6
Claw Zones
10
0
2 2
5 5
1 1
6
7 8
Abaxial (outside) view
9
Code Lesion Name Page Zones
U Sole Ulcer 4 4
T Toe Ulcer 8 1
W White Line Lesion 12 1,2,3
H Sole Hemorrhage 16 4,5,6
F Foot Rot 19 9
D Digital Dermatitis 22 9,10
E Heel Erosion 27 6
I Interdigital Dermatitis 28 0,10
C Corkscrew Claw 29 7
V Vertical Fissure 30 7,8
X Axial Fissure 31 11,12
G Horizontal Fissure 33 7,8
Z Thin Sole 37 4,5
K Interdigital Hyperplasia 39 0
L Periople Ulcer 41 11
3

Sole Ulcer
U
Sole ulcer is defined as a hole in the sole horn at the typical site (the posterior end of zone 4).
Severities are scored after trimming.
Severity 1
The corium is exposed.
4

Sole Ulcer Severity 1 continued
5

6
Sole Ulcer Severity 2
Exposed granulation tissue is evident.

Sole Ulcer Severity 3
Exposed granulation tissue is larger than the end of a pinky finger.
7

Toe Ulcer
T
Severities are scored after trimming.
Severity 1
A hole in the sole horn in the toe region (zone 1 and/or 5), difficult to differentiate from, and
similar to, a White Line Lesion in zone 1.
8

Toe Ulcer Severity 2
Granulation tissue present, short toe.
9

10
Toe Ulcer Severity 3
Exposed necrotic tissue or bone, distinct smell, very short toe. Extreme cases may progress to
involve other, more complicated lesions such as a vertical crack extending up to the coronary
band.

Toe Ulcer Severity 3 (cont’d)
11

White Line Lesion
W
All severities are scored after trimming.
Severity 1
Ranges from hemorrhage to slight separation of white line. Trimming may release small amounts
of pus.
12

White Line Lesion Severity 2
Minor exposure of corium; detachment of
horn, commonly at heel sole/wall junction but
possibly in other areas; substantial pus.
13

14
White Line Lesion Severity 2 continued

White Line Severity 3
More pronounced exposure of corium, possibly extending up to the coronary band.
15

Sole Hemorrhage
H
Severity score is based on appearance after trimming.
Severity 1
Light coloured blood streaks in sole horn.
16

Sole Hemorrhage Severity 2
Darker red or blue areas left in the sole after it has been trimmed.
17

18
Sole Hemorrhage Severity 3
Very dark red, purple or blue areas left in the sole after trimming.

Foot Rot
F
Severity 1
Both digits are swollen equally up to the fetlock, including the
dew claws.
19

20
Foot Rot Severity 2
Tissue between coronary band and fetlock broken open, foul odour.

Foot Rot Severity 3
Severity 2 with other complications.
21

Digital Dermatitis
D
The Mortellaro scoring system is used for digital dermatitis.
Score M0
Clear skin; no sign of of existing or pre-existing
lesion.
Score M1
A small, round lesion with a clear border, less
than 2 cm in diameter; surface is moist, rough,
mottled red-grey with scattered bright red spots;
cow will retract fot when lesion is pressed,
indicating acute pain, likely causing her to limp.
22

Digital Dermatitis Score M2
An angry red-grey mottled lesion larger than
2 cm in diameter; painful to the cow when
pressed.
23

24
Digital Dermatitis Score M3
A post-treatment healing stage with a dry, brown scab on the surface; no reaction from cow
when lesion is pressed.

Digital Dermatitis Score M4
Lesion has become chronic with raised growths on surface; no longer painful.
25

26
Digital Dermatitis Score M4.1
A chronic lesion with new M1 lesions beginning on surface.

Heel Erosion
E
Score all cases as severity 3.
27

Interdigital Dermatitis
I
Score all cases as severity 1.
28

Corkscrew Claw
C
Severity 1
The sole gradually grows to face inwards and upwards as the axial side of the claw rotates.
Score all cases as severity 1.
29

Vertical Fissure
V
Severity 1
Score all as severity 1, irrespective of the
size of the crack.
30

Axial Fissure
X
Severity is determined by the length and
depth of the fissure.
Severity 1
A visible track appears indicating the start
of a fissure but not the full distance from
the interdigital space to the sole.
31

32
Axial Fissure Severity 2
An enlarged crack extending from the interdigital space to the sole.

Axial Fissure Severity 3
The corium is exposed in the fissure.
33

Horizontal Fissure
G
Severity 1
A slight groove in the wall parallel to the coronary band.
34

Horizontal Fissure Severity 2
A deeper groove but loose horn is not yet evident.
35

36
Horizontal Fissure Severity 3
Lower portion of horn is partially detached from underlying tissue, resembling a ‘thimble’.

Thin Sole
Z
Severity 1
Sole is ‘spongy’ when finger or ‘hoof tester’ pressure is applied.
37

Thin Sole Severity 2
Sole is ‘spongy’ and toe is less than 3 inches in length from coronary band to tip.
Thin Sole Severity 3
Sole is worn through, corium is exposed and may be bleeding.
Photos Required
38

Interdigital Hyperplasia
Severity 1
Growth of tissue (hyperplasia) between claws
but does not fill interdigital space.
K
Severity 2
Hyperplastic tissue fills interdigital space.
39

40
Interdigital Hyperplasia Severity 3
Growth of tissue (hyperplasia) between claws causes claws to spread.

Periople Ulcer
L
Severity 3
The size of the granulation tissue
is bigger than a pea, pushing
the crack open and creating an
underrun wall.
Severity 1
A crack in the perioplic horn in the abaxial
region, usually very painful.
Severity 2
Granulation tissue has formed out of the
crack.
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version 0.7 - 1 December 2014