Foot Rot By: Endre Fink, UK Research Specialist

Foot Rot Bacteria enters the hoof and digests the hard tissue that protects the soft fleshy tissue inside the hoof Requires foot trimming There is often gray scum and a very pungent smell No vaccine available in the U.S. Caused by: Fusobacterium necrophorum  Always present in soil/manure  Affects soft part of the hoof  Helps Dichelobacter nodosus enter Dichelobacter nodosus  Only lives in the soil for 10-14 days  Can survive in the hoof given the right anaerobic environment  Affects soft and hard part of the hoof  Can be eliminated

Foot Scald

Foot Scald Caused by: Also called benign foot rot Can lead to foot rot Swollen, red skin between toes It does not affect the hard part of the hoof, unless left untreated Starts due to damage to the interdigital skin caused from tall grass, muddy conditions, weed stubbles, etc. Caused by: Fusobacterium necrophorum  Anaerobic bacteria which inhabits the large intestine of small ruminants  Always present in soil and manure

Foot Rot Foot Scald Prevention ~ Never buy infected sheep ~ Inspect and isolate new animals ~ Trim feet ~ Use foot baths

Foot Rot / Foot Scald Treatments ~ The goal is to dry out the infected feet and introduce oxygen ~ Trim feet; always remove all necrotic tissue when trimming an animal known to have foot rot ~ Isolate affected animals ~ Cull chronic limpers

Foot Rot / Foot Scald Treatments ~ Rotate pastures every 10-12 days, important to move right after trimming and walking through a foot bath ~ Use of chemical drying agents Copper Sulfate  Hardens the hoof  Can be toxic to sheep  Stains the wool  Good for scald as there is not a lot of trimming  8 lbs in 5 gal water Zinc Sulfate  Does not harden the hoof  Animals have to stand for up to 15 minutes  Can be hard to dilute  Good to use if having to do a lot of trimming  4 lbs in 5 gal water Dry Foot Bath Good preventative Need to put in area where sheep will walk through it 10 lbs Zinc sulfate mixed with 90 lbs limestone