The correctly trimmed, normal foot should also be perpendicular to the leg of the cow when viewed from the front or the rear. The most common condition is chronic, subclinical laminitis. The most common hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of laminitis is that endotoxins are produced in the gastrointestinal tract during subclinical or clinical rumen acidosis. These endotoxins are absorbed into the circulatory system and cause thrombi or small blood clots that can affect the peripheral circulation, especially in the feet. Circulatory disturbances of the laminar corium then result in poor attachment of the horn to the pedal bone and poor horn production.
Chronic problems can even lead to dropping of the pedal bone and toe ulcers.
The pressure of the bones on the corium cause hemorrhage and contusion and will become visible after about 2-4 months. Sole and white line hemorrhages originate from damage to corium with the blood being incorporated into the horn as it grows. These will become visible several weeks after the insult depending on the thickness of the sole and rate of growth. A sole abscess or white line abscess can occur if the hemorrhage becomes infected. Sole ulcer is a continuous opening in the sole horn that exposes the corium.