Working practices of cattle foot trimmers used for footcare in dairy cattle compared with those of veterinary surgeons for treatment of lameness in large animal practice.

A questionnaire was sent to 270 veterinary surgeons and 135 cattle foot trimmers, investigating their perceptions on lameness and associated pain, with particular emphasis on dairy cattle. Response rates were 58 and 51%, respectively, but the number of respondents fully answering each question varied. Cattle foot trimming methods, opinions on pain associated with lameness and methods used to control pain were investigated. Responses of both groups were compared. No veterinary surgeon attended more than 50 lame cattle per month. The 'Dutch Method' of foot trimming was always used by 47% of veterinary respondents and 89% of trimmers. Both groups considered lameness to be potentially painful. Orthopaedic shoes were used by 79% of responding veterinary surgeons and 97% of trimmers (P < 0.001) to alleviate weightbearing by diseased digits. Housing lame cows on straw was regularly recommended by approximately one-third of both groups. Around a third of veterinary surgeons used local anaesthetics when treating lame cattle. Only 27% used analgesics when treating lame cattle.