Table 2 Definitions of foot lesions as recorded during foot trimming of 144 dairy cows

Digital dermatitis

Proliferative inflammation of the dorsal or plantar – palmar skin. Commonly found adjacent to the heels or less commonly in the proximal part of the interdigital space

Interdigital necrobacillosis

Acute necrotising inflammation of the interdigital skin and underlying tissues, with swelling above the coronary band and in the interdigital space

Interdigital dermatitis

Inflammation of the interdigital skin without extension to deeper tissues

Heel horn erosions

Pits and pockmarks, with parallel horizontal grooves on the bulb of the heel. Sometimes the horn is separated forming flaps

Sole haemorrhage

Haemorrhagic discoloration covering ≥ 50 % of the sole or a smaller area with deep intense colour

Sole ulcer

Circumscribed loss of the sole horn exposing the corium of the solar surface, located in the region of the sole-bulb junction, usually nearer the axial margin with or without additional affection of deeper structures of the claw

White line disease

Separation of the abaxial sole from the wall; disrupted continuity of white line with the presence of necrosis, organic material or an abscess

Double sole

Under run of the sole horn, two soles separated by a space

Toe ulcer

Focal area of necrosis or an abscess located at the tip of the claw, undermining the sole horn. Severe cases can be associated with distal phalangeal osteitis

Axial wall fissure

Deep fissure on the axial surface of the claw, parallel to the dorsal wall

Vertical wall fissure

Vertical fissure of the wall horn, usually located on the dorsal or dorso-lateral aspect of the claw

Horizontal wall fissure

Fissure of the wall horn, parallel to the coronary band

Long toe

Length of the dorsal aspect of the claw ≥ 8 cm and angle of the dorsal wall of the claw < 50°

Interdigital hyperplasia

Fibrous proliferation of the interdigital skin causing a mass that protrudes between the claws; which could be inflamed or not