Comparative Effects of a Cow Hoof Cover® and Bandaging as Dressing Materials for the Treatment of Digital Dermatitis in Dairy Cows

Digital dermatitis (DD) contributes to lameness, posing major animal welfare and economic concerns. Corrective trimming, topical antibiotics, and bandaging are widely practised in managing DD. However, the challenges associated with conventional bandaging include water retention and a moist environment, which affect the healing process. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Cow Hoof Cover® (CHC) for the treatment of DD in dairy cows. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, involving cows affected with active stages of DD (M1 and M2), allocated to CHC (n = 29) and conventional bandaging (n = 27) groups. The standard treatment entailed a Dutch five-step hoof trimming, wound management, application of topical antibiotic containing oxytetracycline (Engemycin 25 mg/mL), and wrapping of the digit using either the CHC or conventional bandaging. All cows received an intramuscular injection of flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg) for pain relief. Primary outcomes were healing of DD lesions (transition from active stages to M0) and restoration of normal gait (locomotion score of 1). All cows were observed weekly until Week 4 after treatment. While alterations in locomotion score were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.23) during the study period, the CHC group had significantly higher (p < 0.01) proportions of cured cows at week 3 (n = 6, 20.6%) and week 4 (n = 17; 58.6%) compared to the control. None of the CHC-wrapped lesions progressed into the chronic hyperkeratotic or proliferative stage (M4), but such transitions were recorded in four cows in the control group. Overall, the CHC had significantly higher probability of cure (HR = 2.79; 95% CI 1.30–5.97) than the control group. Excluding the treatment group, none of the tested animal characteristics and treatment-related variables influenced the probability of cure. Overall, the CHC offers practical advantages over conventional bandaging; it is quick to apply, durable, and water-resistant, supporting its use for field application and large-scale herd management. However, histological investigation and robust clinical trials are recommended to ascertain whether the CHC promotes a complete cure of active DD lesions.