Evaluation of arterial digital blood flow using Doppler ultrasonography in healthy dairy cows.

Summary

# Evaluation of Arterial Digital Blood Flow Using Doppler Ultrasonography in Healthy Dairy Cows Circulatory compromise in the bovine digit has long been suspected as a contributing factor to lameness and foot disease, yet standardised methods for assessing digital perfusion remain underdeveloped in cattle practice. Müller and colleagues used pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography with a 10-MHz transducer to establish baseline blood flow parameters in the interdigital artery of the pastern region, examining 22 clinically sound German Holstein cows across three commercial farms without requiring sedation or special restraint beyond routine hoof-trimming stocks. By characterising quantitative Doppler variables (flow velocity, resistance indices and other haemodynamic markers) in healthy animals, the research provided a reference dataset against which pathological changes associated with foot lesions might be identified and monitored. The non-invasive nature of the technique and its applicability during routine handling make Doppler ultrasonography a potentially valuable diagnostic tool for equine and bovine practitioners seeking to detect early circulatory dysfunction before clinical lameness becomes apparent. This work opens the door to longitudinal studies correlating digital blood flow abnormalities with the onset of specific foot conditions, ultimately enabling earlier intervention and improved herd health management.

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Key Findings

• •Interdigital artery in the pastern region was successfully visualized using 10-MHz pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography in dairy cows
• •Quantitative arterial blood flow variables were successfully assessed in both hind limbs of 22 healthy Holstein cows without sedation

Conditions Studied

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