There is disclose a method of treating and preventing digital dermatitis in aherd of claw-bearing animals, inparticular bovine digital dermatitis in a herd of cattle, comprising supplyingzinc gluconate and copper gluconate to the feed of said herd inan amount between 35 to 500 mg zinc per kg dry feed per animal and between 5and 40 mg copper per kg dry feed per animal andconcomitantly treating any diagnosed digital dermatitis lesion in said herd ofanimals until the lesion is healed with a standard caretopical treatment, in particular with a salicylic acid bandage topicaltreatment, continuing supplying zinc gluconate and coppergluconate to said herd and concomitantly treating any diagnosed lesion in saidherd for at least 3 months, preferably for at least 6 months.
