Cattle Lameness and Hoofcare by Blowey Roger W.;

Author:Blowey, Roger W.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 5m Publishing

The important feature in diagnosis is that the interdigital skin is split to expose the underlying and necrotic dermis. Whereas digital dermatitis is primarily an infection of the superficial layers of the skin (the epidermis), the characteristic of ‘foul’ is that it produces a toxin that causes necrosis and tissue degeneration in the deeper dermis. There are three strains of F. necrophorum, and one is especially virulent. This is one reason why some cases of ‘foul’ are mild and others are much more severe.

In untreated cases the swelling may track up the tendon sheaths of the leg towards the fetlock and beyond, or may penetrate into the pedal joint itself. The latter produces an extremely severe and protracted lameness, often requiring amputation. In Figure 5.83 the deep interdigital erosion caused by foul appears to be producing some swelling of the right claw and must be extremely close to the pedal joint at this point.

Treatment, which should be administered promptly in order to avoid infection penetrating the joint, is normally by antibiotic injection. In more severe cases anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. flunixin, administered with the first treatment, improve response to treatment, reduce the animal’s temperature, reduce swelling and provide pain relief. The foot should always be lifted to ensure that there is not a stick or stone between the claws contributing to the foul.

Regular, i.e. daily, disinfectant foot-baths (see later in this section) are very effective in the control of herd outbreaks. If a high incidence of infection occurs, check that the feet are not being damaged by agents such as stones in muddy and poorly maintained gateways. Outbreaks of foul can also occur in young-stock, both housed and at pasture, and individual cases may be seen in calves as young as two to three weeks. As with mastitis, an untreated individual case can act as a reservoir of infection for other cows, and hence the affected animal should be treated promptly and effectively.

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