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Welcomed wet weather setting stage for foot issues in cattle

published: February 5th 2010
by: Martha Hollida Garrett

While the wet winter weather has been welcomed in terms of moisture across the South, it is setting the stage for outbreaks of foot infections in herds. While the disease is not life threatening, foot rot is economically important to producers because of decreased weight gain and treatment costs. Addition-ally, lame bulls will not breed and there are reproduction losses. Research has shown that anytime an animal has a disease or immune challenge, a large portion of the energy is going to be shifted away from production to support the immune system. Immunity has a very high energy demand when animals are sick.
Causes
    Foot rot is a common disease of cattle that can cause severe lameness and decreased weight gain. Other common names for the disease are sore foot and foul foot. Technically the disease is called interdigital necrobacilosis, meaning a bacterial disease creating dead tissue between the toes, the interdigital area of the foot.The most frequent cause of foot rot in cattle is Fusobacteri-um necrophorum, a bacterial organism widespread in the animal’s environment. Animal health experts think the disease is aggravated by mud and manure. Another bacterial organism accompained by spirochete has been incriminated as a cause of foot rot. Also yeast and molds have been suggested as contributing organisms, ac-cording to Texas AgriLife Extension material. These bacteria are common in the environment and present in the rumen and feces of normal cattle. Once these bacteria invade the skin of the foot, they rapidly cause the condition we recognize as foot rot. Injury or damage to the skin between the claws allows this invasion to occur.
    That may be, in part, because the moisture softens the skin between a cow's toes or claws. Once the skin has been softened, an injury can cause an abrasive opening to the skin and allow the bacteria to enter.  Often there may be a break in the skin or hoof from sharper pieces of stone, metal, wood, stubble or even frozen manure. Execessive dryness of the hoof and skin that causes cracking or injuries may also allow for entry of the bacteria, which explains why foot rot will also surface in dry, hot weather.
Signs
    John F. Currin, D.V.M., Extension Veterinary Specialist, Virginia Tech, says that foot rot is characterized by a sudden onset of lameness. The animals are in obvious  pain and will often only touch their toe to the ground. One or more limbs can be affected by foot rot, although it is usually one of the hind limbs. The skin and soft tissue between the toes become red and swollen, which causes the toes to spread apart. A swelling from the top of the hoof to the dew claws or higher is often observed. Affected cattle will eat less because of decreased grazing time and fewer trips to the feed trough, or they may go off feed altogether. The skin between the toes will develop a crack where protruding dead or decaying tissue will be present. There is a foul odor. If the animal is not treated at this point, the infection may spread to the deeper structures, including bones, tendons, and joints. When this happens, it is considered a chronic condition, and is much harder or impossible to treat. The swelling will become more severe and may go up higher on the leg. Animals will even carry the leg at this point.   
Treatment
    Once foot rot conditions are observed, the affected foot should be cleaned, trimmed and inspected for the presence of anything else. Antiseptic and bandages may be applied, but the most common treatment is the administering of sulfonamides or broad-spectrum antibiotics.
    The most common treatment for foot rot is a long-acting tetracycline (200 mg oxytetracycline) such as LA-200®.  The dose is 4.5 cc per 100 pounds of body weight given under the skin (subcutaneously [SQ]). This may be repeated in 48 to 72 hours if needed. Penicillin is sometimes used, but requires daily doses and is an extra label use of this product, so a veterinarian must be consulted before using this. Along with antibiotics, flossing be-tween the toes with a clean rope or twine will help remove some of the dead tissue. Keeping the foot clean and dry is helpful. All SQ injections should be given in the neck or in front of the shoulder. If the foot does not improve within two to three days, a veterinarian should be consulted. A veterinarian can remove the infected tissue surgically, or, in severe cases that only involve one toe (or claw), the toe can be amputated. For valuable animals, a claw salvage surgery may be attempted.
Prevention
    Prevention is always a producer’s best line of defense and there are a number of things that can be done. The cattle should be on a good mineral supplementation program as zinc and iodine are very valuable microminerals to combat foot rot.
    Dr. Darrell Kinnard, veterinarian in Mabank, Texas advises producers to concentrate on prevention as that is the least costly and the most convenient way to deal with  the disease.  He advises feeding organic iodine in combination with range meal and salt.
    Organic iodine  added to minerals is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to prevent foot rot. The iodine should be fed at 10-15 milligrams per head per day. Feeding more than this will not be any more effective and can cause the cattle to have excess salivation.It works best fed in loose salt/mineral  mixes and should not be fed in combination with block form salt/mineral supplements.
    Also helpful is getting the cattle out of muddy areas if at all possible. Rotate where hay is fed to minimize the amount of manure in standing areas. Consider using a blade to fill mudholes or  increase drainage areas in pens. Lime can be spread around feed bunks or water troughs to absorb moisture also.   
    Keeping cattle healthy is paramount for profibility and that includes the feet.
SLS