Foot Rot: A Pain in the Hoof!

Have you ever noticed an animal limping or seen a hoof that was swollen and looked painful? If so, you might be looking at foot rot, a painful infection caused by several different bacteria species, with a common one being Fusobacterium necrophorum, that affects livestock. It can affect the daily lives of livestock year-round and ultimately cause a decrease in their overall health. When foot rot is caught early it can usually be treated successfully. This is why it is important for organic, alternative, and small farmers to know the signs, causes, and how to treat their animals.

What are the Signs?

Diagnosing foot rot can me a little tricky. There are many other conditions that it can be mistaken for, such as abscesses, fractures, or inflammation of the tendons. Here are some of the most common signs of foot rot to look for:

Onset lameness (usually the first sign)
Swelling between the digits and/or ankle
Fever
A foul smell

Causes

The bacteria that can cause foot rot are all over the environment, but it takes some form of entry into the skin for the infection to start. The injury could be the animal stepped on a nail, for example, and it pierced the skin. There is an increase of foot rot when the livestock have periods of low immunity, nutrient deficiencies, and muddy or urine and feces filled pens. Deficiencies in zinc, selenium, and copper will decrease the integrity of the skin and hoof, increasing the risk of injury and foot rot. At times of low immunity, the livestock will have a more difficult time fighting off the infection. These situations can be caused by poor diet, high stress, and sicknesses.

Treatment

Cleaning the hoof is always a good place to start. This will help you rule out other conditions. The sooner you can treat the more successful the treatment will likely be. If you suspect foot rot, contact your veterinarian for the best treatment options which might include anti-inflammatories, pain medications, steroids, and antibiotics. A zinc or copper solution applied to the hoof has also been beneficial if you would like to try to avoid antibiotics. Use caution with this because copper is toxic to goats and sheep if ingested.

Prevention

Ensuring your livestock has access to good nutrition, access to clean water and vitamins and mineral, is a good preventative measure. This will help make sure your animals have healthy hooves and good immune systems. Another practice is cleaning dirty or muddy pens or moving the livestock from a muddy pen. Wet environments increase the likelihood of infection. Frequent observation of your livestock in the pasture will also allow you to detect a possible injury or catch the foot rot early for treatment. Quarantine when introducing new animals is another good method. Once the bacteria enter the soil in your pastures it is more likely to infect other animals and is difficult to get rid of. For more information on quarantining new animals please check out one of our past posts, Safely introducing new or returning animals and separating sick animals from your herd on organic and alternative farms.