Using salicylic acid to treat Digital Dermatitis in dairy cows | AHDB

2022-05-28 22:01:02 By : Ms. Coli Zhan

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Salicylic acid is keratolytic, promoting the removal of epidermis and so has been found to be very effective for treating digital dermatitis, particularly the proliferative (hairy) and hyperkeratotic (warty) stages. The low pH may also make it bacteriocidal, particularly as the spirochaetes causing digital dermatitis are largely unviable at below pH 5.

Salcylic acid is widely used, especially by hoof trimmers. However, care is required to stay the right side of the law.

The rules on use of medicines can be confusing, for vets as well as for farmers and hoof trimmers. In the UK only a veterinary surgeon is permitted to diagnose, advise on treatments and prescribe medicines under the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966). The VSA is a good read if you ever suffer from insomnia – which can be found here. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) keep a list of licensed medicines and their withdrawal periods. People making any treatment claims with unlicensed products can expect to be challenged by the VMD. So where does that leave us with salicylic acid for the treatment of digital dermatitis?

So whilst the situation is quite restrictive currently, we do anticipate that a licensed salicylic acid product will become available for use in the UK in the near future, which will then make life for the prescribing vet and trimmer so much simpler and exciting. Until then we should apply the tools we have as best as we can.

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