Foot Rot is a hoof infection commonly found in sheep, goats, and cattle. It is extremely painful and contagious.
Causes
- in cattle two species of bacteria Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus
- in sheep F. necrophorum first invades the interdigital skin following damage to the skin, and causes interdigital lesions and slight inflammation. The second stage of the disease is marked by the invasion of the foot by the foot rot bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus
- Another cause of foot rot may be high temperatures or humidity, causing the skin between the hooves to crack and let the bacteria infect the foot
Clinical Symptoms
The clinical symptoms are lameness, erythema or swelling of the interdigital epidermis with little or not odor followed by underrunning of the horn.
Treatment
• Zinc sulphate or coppe sulphate, 10% footbath
• Formalin, 5% footbath
• Topical antimicrobial sprays including oxytetracyline /gentian violet