Foot rot

Foot rot

Foot rot, or infectious pododermatitis, is a hoof infection that is commonly found in sheep, goat, and cattle. As the name suggests, it rots away the foot of the animal, more specifically the area between the two toes of the affected animal. It is extremely painful and contagious. It can be treated with a series of medications but if not treated the whole herd can become infected. The cause of the infection in cattle is two anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can grow without oxygen), "Fusobacterium necrophorum" and "Bacteroides melaninogenicus". Both bacteria are common to the environment that cattle live in and "Fusobacterium" is present in the rumen and fecal matter of the cattle. Usually there is an injury to the skin between the hooves that allows the bacteria to infect the animal. 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. This is one of the reasons that foot rot is such a major problem in the summer. Foot rot is easily identifiable by its appearance and foul odor. Treatment is usually with an antibiotic medication, and preventing injury to the feet is the best way to prevent foot rot.

Signs of Infection

The first sign of a foot rot infection is when the skin between the claws of the hoof begins to swell. Swelling usually appears twenty-four hours after infection. The skin between the toes may be very red and tender and the toes may separate because of all the swelling. This is very painful to the animal and can cause lameness. A crack can develop along the infected part and is yellow in color. The foot will have a foul odor. tendons, and joints in the area can become infected which is much harder to treat. There is a condition known as "super foot rot" that is seen in some animals. Super foot rot is just like normal foot rot only infection occurs much faster and is usually much more severe. Most normal foot rot treatments will not cure this foot rot and a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Treatment

The best way to treat foot rot is to catch it as early as possible. The infected animals should be separated away from the herd as soon as possible to prevent the infection from spreading and allow the animal a better environment for healing. The first treatment is to clean the foot thoroughly and examine the foot to determine that it is definitely foot rot that is causing the infection. Keeping the wound clean and using an antibiotic ointment may help reduce the spread of infection. Foot rot is usually treated with an antimicrobial product. Penicillin, tetracycline, and other antibacterial medicines are often used to treat normal cases of foot rot. Usually the antimicrobial product is non-prescription but sometimes a veterinarian may choose to use a prescription medication. It is critical to closely monitor the animals to make sure they are responding to treatment. The infected animals should be kept dry until the healing has occurred. If the animal is showing no signs of recovery after three to four days the bacteria could have infected the other tissues of the foot and along with a veterinarian the owner should decide whether to amputate the bad foot or to put the animal down.

Prevention

The infected animals can serve as the source of infection for the whole herd because they will spread the bacteria throughout the environment. The bacteria can live without a host for one to ten months. Once another animal gets a cut or crack in the soft tissue between their toes the bacteria can infect the animal. This is why infected animals must be kept away from the rest. A good way to prevent foot rot is to keep any foreign objects that may cut or damage the foot out of the environment. This should be a practice regardless of whether a herd has foot rot or not. The cuts are what allow the bacteria to enter the foot tissue and cause the infection. Some cattle feeders add zinc to the feed mixes and may vaccinate the animals for foot rot. Zinc is important to maintaining the skin and hooves of cattle. Cattle deficient in zinc will become infected easier than cattle with adequate zinc in their diet.

References

* [http://cattletoday.info/footrot.htm Foot rot information]
*W.G. Kvasnica, DVM, Ben Bruce, Ph.D., Ron Torell, MS. "Foot Rot of Cattle". [http://www.ag.unr.edu/AB/Extension/Cattleman/Cattleman2001/2001_009.PDF] .

External links

* [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/exten/cc-corner/Image4.jpg. Image of a foot with foot rot]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Foot rot — Foot Foot (f[oo^]t), n.; pl. {Feet} (f[=e]t). [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. f[=o]t, pl. f[=e]t; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. f[=o]tr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. f[=o]tus, L. pes, Gr. poy s, Skr. p[=a]d, Icel. fet step, pace… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • foot rot — n a progressive inflammation of foot tissues (as between the digits) esp. of sheep or cattle specif a necrobacillosis marked by sloughing, ulceration, suppuration, and sometimes loss of the hoof * * * inflammation with interdigital dermatitis and …   Medical dictionary

  • foot rot — foot′ rot n. 1) vet an infection of sheep and cattle, causing inflammatory changes in the area of the hoofs 2) ppa a disease of plants, affecting the base of the stem or trunk • Etymology: 1800–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • foot rot — n. ☆ 1. an infection which causes rotting of the stem base and crown of a plant, caused by various microorganisms 2. a disease of cattle and sheep caused by a bacterium (Sphaerophorus necrophorus) and characterized by necrosis of the tissue in… …   English World dictionary

  • foot rot — noun 1. contagious degenerative infection of the feet of hoofed animals (especially cattle and sheep) (Freq. 3) • Hypernyms: ↑animal disease 2. plant disease in which the stem or trunk rots at the base • Hypernyms: ↑plant disease * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • foot rot — 1. Also called fouls, stinkyfoot. Vet. Pathol. an infection of sheep, causing inflammatory changes in the area of the hoofs and lameness. 2. Plant Pathol. a stem rot at ground level; crown rot. [1800 10; FOOT + ROT] * * * …   Universalium

  • foot-rot —  Disease of the foot (e.g. Athletes foot) …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • foot rot — noun Date: 1708 1. a progressive inflammation of the feet of sheep, goats, or cattle that is associated with bacterial infection 2. a plant disease marked by rot of the stem near the ground …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • benign foot rot — foot rot of sheep that is mainly confined to the skin between the digits; lameness is less severe than with virulent foot rot. Called also scald and foot scald …   Medical dictionary

  • virulent foot rot — foot rot of sheep with chronic necrosis of the hoof and underlying dermis, destruction and eventual detachment of the hoof, lameness, and recumbency. The cause is usually a combined infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodosus …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”