Prevalence of cutaneous and mucosal lesions in dairy cattle admitted to a Canadian Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2018 to 2019.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence, anatomical distribution, or nature of cutaneous, hair and oral mucosal abnormalities (CHMAs) in cattle is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To determine how often dairy cattle admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) had CHMAs (except for foot and ear canal) on physical examination and if there was an age-related difference. ANIMALS: Four hundred and thirty-three cattle: cattle <3&#x2009;months (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;85), cattle 3 to 24&#x2009;months (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;73), and cattle >24&#x2009;months (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;275). METHODS: In this descriptive, observational, prospective study, CHMAs of dairy cattle admitted to the VTH of the Universit&#xe9; de Montr&#xe9;al were recorded over 1&#x2009;year. Prevalences were calculated. Dermatological examinations were performed within 48&#x2009;hours of admission, according to a glossary. Chi-square tests were used to compare prevalence between age groups. RESULTS: The 433 cattle were mostly females (97.5%) and of the Holstein breed (89.8%). The prevalence of cattle <3&#x2009;months presenting with at least 1 identifiable CHMA was 65% (55/85). In cattle 3 to 24&#x2009;months old, it was 90% (66/73), and in cattle >24&#x2009;months, it was 99.3% (273/275). There were significant differences (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001) between the prevalence of CHMAs localized on the ischia, ilia, stifles, hocks, carpi, flank, lateral neck, dorsal cervical, and cornual regions in cattle >24&#x2009;months vs <3&#x2009;months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: CHMAs were highly prevalent and age-specific. Calluses on the carpi and hocks of cattle >24&#x2009;months were the most common CHMAs.