3d-measurement of the Distance between the Distal Phalanx and the Inner Surface of the Claw Horn in Cattle

The distal phalanx in cattle is attached to the claw horn in a twofold way: on the one hand it is suspended by the wall segment of the dermis with its typical lammellar structure (Westerfeld et al., 2000). On the other hand it is supported in the palmar/plantar region by the bulb with its especially thick subcutaneous tissue (Räber, 2000; Räber et al., 2002). Especially in dairy cows the tissues comprising this cushion undergo some significant changes with increasing age: it could be observed that there is a loss of fatty tissue on the one hand associated with an increase of collagen (Lischer et al., 2000). This leads to a more "sclerotic" structure of the bulb rendering it less compliant. Furthermore the suspensory apparatus has been described to slacken in the periparturient period (Tarlton et al., 2002). If this is combined with a weakening of the abaxial suspension in the wall segment there is the possibility of a rotation of the third phalanx (Ossent et al., 2000). This leads to an altered distribution of pressure and mechanically influences the dermal blood supply. In the worst case these changes may lead to sole ulcer ...