FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 12

FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.

Foot-rot has been particularly prevalent thia season. The losses, direct and indirect, from this disease are graver than is usually acknowledged. Steps to eradicate the trouble and prevent its reappearance are, therefore, well worth while. It is most common in districts where, by reason of heavy rainfall, dense pasture, or damp ground, conditions are favourable for its occurrence. It is an old trouble, and has been known to sheep owners for generations, but footrot may be prevented by careful management, involving treatment in the early stages. If the first few cases (says Veterinarian C. V. Dayus, M.R.C.V.S., district superintendent, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin) were immediately and properly treated, and the balance of the flock put through a suitable foot bath periodically, and the sheep then moved to the driest pasture . available, the trouble could be considerably reduced. The disease is due to a specific infection of the foot, caused by a germ or organism which gains entrance to the tissue of the foot through cracks caused in the sensitive portions by excessive moisture when the flock is grazing on infected or' wet pastures. Most sheep owners realise that an abrasion between the claws, commonly known as “ scald,” is one of the usual predisposing causes of the disease. This is brought about by the visitation set up by long, rank grass, and there is formed, as a result, an admirable means of entrance for infective organisms. One can readily appreciate the adverse influence that wet seasons and damp, low-lying pastures may have upon the horny structures of the feet. The horn grows fast and becomes overgrown, and may, and in all probability does, become soft and even decayed. These undue conditions create a harbour for grit and dirt, which work into the cleft of the foot, causing lameness. This overgrowth of horn causes a deformity of the feet, due to insufficient wear, and the foot affected wears .unevenly, and there is frequently a separation ’of the wall of the hoof from the sole, thus”' offering another means of bacterial infection. The symptoms of foot-rot are generally weil known. Lameness is usually the first symptom observed, and there appears a moist area just above the horny part of the cleft of the foot, which gradually reddens and assumes an inflamed appearance. This inflammation may

appear at either the front or back part of the cleft, but usually it first shows *t the heel. The lameness increases rapidly, the inflammation spreads, the foot above the hoof becomes swollen and hot, and in a little while the horn becomes underrun, and then a foul discharge is noticed. The discharge is never very great, but is always foul smelling. In protracted and severe cases the foot may be greatly swollen, hot, and extremely painful. Granulating tissue or proud flesh may grow out from the ■wounded surfaces.

In those areas w’here foot-rot is prevalent, the feet should not be allowed to become overgrown, and, consequently, periodic inspection and trimming of overgrown horn is recommended, while, as a means of prevention, the flock should be put through a foot bath. A suitable bath can be made of wood or concrete (says Veterinarian Dayus) about 16ft long, -10 in wide, and 7in high at the sides, and 3in at the ends. Side fences are provided, close boarded and sloping outwards, so as to permit the sheep walking through the race easily. The best solution to put in the bath is probably bluestone at the rate of 11b tc four gallons of water as a preventive, If sheep are badly affected it is advisable to make the bath mixture double this strength, and, needless to say, before putting the sheep through the trough, the feet should be examined carefully and trimmed. The feet of the healthy animals should be trimmed, all excessive horn being removed, and the sole of the foot, made perfectly level. In the treatment of badly affected sheep, those discharging pus, etc., care must be taken to destroy the tissue and discharges by burning or by using a disinfectant solution. The sheep should be put through the bluestone bath at least once a month, and held in it for, say, three to five minutes. There is no need for more solution in the bath than will just cover the feet of the sheep. It must not be imagined that the foot bath will do a Way with the necessity for individual hand treatment of really bad cases. These must be treated circumspectly. The affected foot should be first thoroughly cleaned by washing ,in an antiseptic Solution, then all diseased and loose or underrun horn and tissue carefully cut away in order that they may not remain a source of pain and inflammation, as well as a protective covering for the disease-producing organisms which will enable them to multiply and burrow deeper. Abcesses should be opened and drained of pus, and excessive growths removed with a knife dr curved scissors. Between operations, all instruments should be kept in a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid or lysol. The treatment outlined is sometimes difficult, but to be successful, it must be carefully and thoroughly carried out. Alter the foot has been cleaned up, a dressing should be applied. Ointments are used, and can be recommended on account of their prolonged action. One effective ointment is prepared as follows:—Over a slow fire, in a suitable vessel, mix powdered bluestone one part, lard one part, and Stockholm tar two parts. Another healing ointment consists of mutton tallow 21b, sulphur- 2oz, Peru balsam 2oz, and carbolic aeid 2oz. The foot should be thoroughly dry before applying the ointment, and bad cases should be attended to two or three times a week. An Australian sheep owner claims to have completely overcome the disease by the use of a 50 per cent, solution of formalin.

After applying any of the ointments, say with a brush, the sheep should be kept standing on a wooden or stone floor until the application is thoroughly dry.