By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the urbanite, Ohio’s record rainfall in April meant vast flooding across the state, not to mention the cancellation of outdoor activities. For those on the farm – especially those tending to four-legged animals with delicate hooves – the continuous wet conditions can lead to another major problem: Foot rot.

“During times of excessively wet conditions like what we’ve had in Ohio in April, a case of foot rot may be inevitable,” says Stephen Boyles, Ohio State University extension beef specialist. “Extremely wet and muddy conditions create the perfect environment for bacterial foot rot to thrive.”

Foot rot is an infection of the interdigital skin, or soft tissue between the toes or claws of the hoof. This infection occurs when bacteria naturally present on the farm enter a cow’s hoof either through an injury or when the skin is too wet or soft to protect itself.

Once the bacteria have invaded the foot, they can multiply quickly, causing a painful infection. The foot may swell and develop a foul odor. Preventing foot rot from occurring in the first place is the best defense.

“A person can go in the pen and reshape the pen to try and reduce the standing water, to try and create better drainage in and around the pen,” Boyles said. “Drainage is so highly important. The animals also need adequate and dry bedding and farmers should make sure the water is detoured away from the pen. Farmers can also mound the pen, giving the animal a high ground.
“Secondly, zinc in the diet of the animal is important as well. It can help prevent the occurrence of foot rot.”

Stephen Blezinger, a livestock nutrition specialist from Texas, says foot rot is an ongoing battle that can be controlled if caught in the early stages.
“Foot rot is not isolated to any specific part of the country,” Blezinger said. “It’s almost impossible to estimate the countless dollars lost annually by cattle producers in terms of labor, medicine cost, performance and even animal loss. The disease can be chronic, with a pooper likelihood of recovery if treatment is delayed.

“Weight gain is significantly reduced when grazing cattle contract the disease. About 20 percent of all diagnosed lameness in cattle is actually foot rot. But the good news is it can be eliminated or caught if one acts quickly.”
According to Blezinger, bacteria gain entrance into subcutaneous tissues and begin rapid multiplication and production of toxins, which stimulate further continued bacterial multiplication and penetration of infection into the deeper structures of the foot.

“Foot rot can occur in cattle of all ages, with increased case incidence during the real wet, humid conditions,” he said, “but the disease can crop up in hot and dry conditions, too. Signs of foot rot are lameness, acute swelling of the tissues and swelling evenly distributed around the hairline of both hooves. The swelling may invade the deeper structures of the foot such as the navicular bone, coffin joint, coffin bone and tendons.”

Blezinger also says the best defense against foot rot is a good offense. In addition to making the area as dry as possible for the animal, he explains a simple examination of the animal can tell a lot.

“One needs to examine the foot, look at the characteristic signs of lameness, elevated body temperature, swelling between the digits, or toes, and separation of the skin between the toes. There can also be sole ulcers, sole abscesses, sole abrasions, infected corns, fractures, septic arthritis and inflammation of the tendons and tendon sheaths,” he pointed out.
And yes, foot rot is curable. “Treatment of foot rot is usually successf
ul, especially when caught and started early in the disease course,” Blezinger said.
“Treatment should always begin with cleaning and examining the foot to establish that lameness is actually due to foot rot and not some other conditions. A topical treatment of your choice should be applied. Some mild cases will respond to topical therapy only.”

Blezinger agrees with Boyles that zinc is vital to good hoof health.
“When cattle are moderately to severely deficient in dietary zinc, supplemental zinc may reduce the incidence of foot rot,” Blezinger said. “Zinc is important in maintaining skin and hoof integrity.”

He adds if things don’t improve in three to four days, a veterinarian should examine the animal for stronger antibiotics.