Foot rot, commonly caused by bacteria called Fusobacterium necrophorum<\/em> or Bacteroides melaninogenicus<\/em>, is a major cause of lameness in the cattle industry.\u00a0 This infectious disease can have a significant economic impact on animal health and performance.\u00a0 The bacteria that cause foot rot are normally found on the skin and in the feces of healthy animals.\u00a0 Anything that causes a compromise in skin integrity allows the bacteria to gain access to deeper tissue.\u00a0 Environmental conditions that predispose cattle to foot rot include, consistently wet and muddy pastures, pens heavily contaminated with urine and feces, or increased humidity in general.\u00a0 We commonly see an increase in foot rot cases during the winter months in the southeast due to prolonged wet conditions combined with occasional freezing hard ground or ice.\u00a0 This leads to softening and abrasion of the interdigital skin, which is the perfect combination for foot rot development.<\/p>\n Typical signs of foot rot include, sudden onset of severe lameness in one or multiple feet, swelling and redness around the coronary band and interdigital space, and reluctance to stand or walk long distances. \u00a0Once foot rot is suspected, the animal should be placed in a chute for treatment.\u00a0 It is important to make sure the lameness is due to foot rot prior to treatment. \u00a0This can be done by lifting the leg with a rope and inspecting the foot, specifically the interdigital space.\u00a0 The animal will be painful on palpation of the interdigital space, and a foul-smelling discharge will often times be noted.<\/p>\n Foot rot in cattle is easily treated if treatment is initiated early in the disease process.\u00a0 Ideal treatment should include cleaning the foot and trying to debride as much dead tissue as possible. \u00a0This can be done by lifting the left with a rope and flossing between the claws with betadine-soaked gauze. \u00a0There are multiple antimicrobials that are labeled to treat foot rot in cattle. Some examples include: tetracyclines (LA 200, Biomycin), ceftiofurs (Excede, Naxcel, Excenel), florfenicol (Nuflor), and tulathromyacin (Draxxin).\u00a0\u00a0 Tetracycline can be bought over the counter, and producers typically have these antimicrobials on hand. \u00a0Typically, one dose of a long-acting tetracycline, such as LA 200, is effective in treating foot rot.\u00a0 Other antibiotics, such as Excede, Nuflor, or Draxxin, require a prescription and consultation with a veterinarian.<\/p>\n Severe foot rot, if left untreated, can lead to infection and destruction of deeper tissues within the foot.\u00a0 Once an animal has been treated once with an antibiotic, an effort should be made to keep the animal in a clean, dry area if possible.\u00a0 If the lameness does not improve within 2-3 days of treatment, the animal should be seen by a veterinarian for further treatment. \u00a0It is important to not give multiple doses of different antibiotics if the lameness does not improve in 2-3 days.\u00a0 There are many other causes of severe lameness in cattle, such as a fracture, puncture, abscess, or an infected joint.\u00a0\u00a0 These are conditions that need prompt treatment by a veterinarian.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Foot rot, commonly caused by bacteria called Fusobacterium necrophorum or Bacteroides melaninogenicus, is a major cause of lameness in the cattle industry.\u00a0 This infectious disease can have a significant economic impact on animal health and performance.\u00a0 The bacteria that cause … Continue reading