Feedback
Foot diseases
Wetting of the feet of livestock for extended periods or injury to the foot can allow the entry of bacteria and foreign matter. The bacteria can invade the foot, and cause infection and development of foot abscess and foot rot.
While it may be difficult to prevent your livestock from being exposed to extended wet weather, there are steps that you can take to minimise risk. It is also essential that you identify and treat foot problems immediately.
This guide discusses some of the major foot diseases affecting horses, cattle and sheep due to floods, and what you can do to minimise risks to your animals and business.
Foot abscess in horses
An increase in foot problems in horses can be expected during extended wet weather. When the hoof is wet for extended periods, softening of the tissues will predispose the area to problems. Foreign matter (sand, gravel, silt, etc.) or bacteria can gain entry to the hoof and cause infection in the soft tissue through:
- a separation in the white line (sole-wall interface)
- penetration of the sole (bottom of the foot)
- hoof wall cracks
- old nail holes.
Usually, the horse will suddenly become lame, which can vary from mild to non-weight bearing lameness and the hoof will be hot to touch. If left untreated, the abscess can burst through at the coronet.
Owners can reduce the likelihood of hoof infections (hoof abscesses in particular) by taking basic precautions, such as:
- moving horses from flood-affected or muddy areas. Horses need to have firm dry footings where their hooves can dry out
- keeping hooves clean, including soles, of mud and manure. Disinfecting hooves that have been exposed to flood water or mud may also be indicated. A disinfectant like diluted chlorhexidine would be suitable
- carrying out proper hoof care, concentrating on a strong healthy white line. If you are unfamiliar with hoof care, obtain the services of a farrier or veterinarian.
Seek prompt veterinary attention for lameness in horses.
Foot rot in cattle
Foot rot is usually characterised by acute inflammation of the skin and adjacent soft tissues of the space between the digits (interdigital space). It is accompanied by swelling, lameness and, in most cases, a foul-smelling necrotic lesion of the interdigital skin.
Causes and contributing factors
A number of bacteria usually present in the environment can cause infection of bovine feet. Healthy epithelium (skin) is resistant to bacterial organisms, while diseased or injured skin is susceptible to infection. High rainfall with wet faeces and mud can soften the interdigital skin, making it susceptible to injury.
Infectious agents gain entry through the skin as a consequence of injury caused by sharp pieces of stone, metal, wood, stubble or thorns. Other factors that may encourage damage to the interdigital skin include irritation and erosion of the interdigital skin caused by interdigital dermatitis, believed to be, in part, a consequence of the constant exposure of feet to mud and manure.
Clinical signs and diagnosis
The most obvious clinical sign of foot rot is lameness, which worsens as the disease progresses. There is inflammation and tissue death, resulting in swelling and pain. There is usually a bad smell associated with foot rot.
Cattle may stand with the foot raised, be reluctant to move, lose their appetite, lose weight, and have a low-grade fever and reduction in milk yield. Hind feet are affected most often and cattle tend to stand and walk on their toes. If left untreated, lameness becomes increasingly severe, with infection extending to the joints and other deeper structures of the foot.
Diagnosis of foot rot is made by observing the animal and physically examining the foot for the characteristic gross lesions. Cattle producers often diagnose any lameness associated with foot swelling as foot rot, but a more careful examination may reveal other causes of the swelling and lameness, such as injury or foreign bodies.
Treatment
Ideally, move the animals to a paddock or yard that is not waterlogged and is free of abrasive footings. Clean the affected foot of mud and any tissue tags. Prompt diagnosis and initiation of antimicrobial therapy are essential to achieve a satisfactory response. The application of local treatments to the foot may assist; however, the treatment of choice is injectable antibiotics administered for 3-5 days.
In feedlot cattle, feed additives may be a better option for treatment (provided the animals are eating), especially if large numbers of cattle are involved. In pastured cattle that cannot be regularly yarded, the use of long-acting injectable antibiotics is needed, though response to treatment, especially in severe cases, is less successful than with daily injections. For very severe cases, an affected claw may need to be amputated to salvage the animal.
Cases that cannot be treated or fail to respond to treatment should be euthanised on humane grounds.
Prevention
Preventative measures include removing sources of injury, and keeping feet dry and clean. Mud holes should be filled and stagnant pools drained or fenced off. Feedlots should be well drained and manure removed frequently. In areas where cattle walk frequently, such as in lanes or gateways, grading or filling in low areas to provide a well-drained pathway for walking may help to prevent foot rot cases. Pouring a concrete pad or establishing solid pads around feed bunks and water troughs will help keep feet dry.
In dairy cows, beef cows and bulls, regular foot care, including claw trimming as needed, helps prevent foot diseases and injuries. Animals may also be walked through a foot bath containing copper sulfate, zinc sulfate or formalin. Footbaths are more commonly used in dairies and may be impractical for most beef herds.
Foot abscess in sheep
Foot abscess causes severe lameness in one or more feet, and can cause a marked loss of condition and production because affected animals cannot graze properly.
Rams and ewes may be unable to mate. Ewes affected in late pregnancy may develop pregnancy toxaemia and die. Ewes may not be able to feed their lambs with resultant loss of lambs.
Causes and contributing factors
Foot abscess is caused by bacteria that live in the environment and can occur on any property.
Injury to the foot or other factors, such as prolonged wetting of the feet, can allow the bacteria to enter the foot. It is more common in fat, heavy sheep, particularly twin bearing ewes.
Clinical signs
It occurs as 2 forms: heel abscess and toe abscess.
The signs of heel abscess are lameness, pain, swelling and heat, usually just above the hoof. Often one hind foot is affected. The signs of toe abscess are acute lameness, which is more common in the front feet.
Treatment
Move sheep to drier paddocks and avoid muddy and wet areas. Pare or trim the feet to drain the abscess and clean the infected area and apply an antibacterial treatment.
Treat affected animals early with long-acting and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Contact your veterinary surgeon for treatment.
To learn more, visit Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.
Prevention
Ensure the sheep's feet are kept in good condition by regular inspection and paring. Follow management practices to prevent sheep, particularly pregnant ewes from becoming over-fat. Avoid putting sheep, particularly pregnant ewes, into wet and muddy conditions, including wet and muddy yards and laneways.
In wet seasons, avoid putting pregnant ewes onto cereal crops, as ploughed conditions are ideal for developing dermatitis of the feet and subsequent heel abscess. Foot baths can help. Seek further advice from your veterinarian.
Note: Thanks to Industry & Investment NSW for the use of information from the fact sheet 'Foot abscess in sheep' (Allan 2010).
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021