Treating hoof rot

Treating Hoof Rot by Coni Ross

Hoof rot is called a lot of things, but it is big trouble for goats. Goats with hoof rot can become so crippled that they can not forage, do not retain body condition, and many times will not breed, or loose the pregnancy prematurely.

Hoof rot is caused by two organisms. The foot rot caused by Dichelobacter nodosus. This is usually a less severe disease, but can become serious if untreated. This infection usually involves the tissue between the digits, but can spread to the underlying hoof tissue, and invade the muscle and bone if untreated, or inadequately treated.

Virulent hoof rot is contagious, and is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. This bacteria is an anaerobe (lives in the absence of oxygen). Many times hoof rot involves both types of bacteria.

There are some treatments that help: Zinc foot baths, and treatment of the individual animal with antibiotics, and removal of ALL hoof that contains dirt, or pockets of dirt.

Hoof rot usually occurs when weather conditions are wet and warm, and if the bacteria is present, and the skin of the animals foot is exposed to the bacteria, infection ensues.

I sold some goats to a lady who was injured and unable to care for them. She had allowed another person to bring a goat to her premises with hoof rot, and the bacteria was introduced into her soil. I received all of these goats back, and ALL of them had hoof rot on more than one foot. I treated as follows with excellent results.

Keep in mind, the bacteria can only live 10 days without a host, so if you can get them cleared up, and get them on fresh pasture, you will have this problem solved.

First: Prepare a place to isolate the animals for at least 10 days on dry ground.

Second: vaccinate for hoof rot, there are cattle and sheep vaccines available, and both will work in my experience. If using the cattle vaccine, give half the label dose given SQ.

Trim the hooves off short, and remove all pockets of dirt, even if the animal’s hooves must be quicked. This removes gross infective material from the hoof. I scrubbed the feet of that bunch of goats with a stiff brush and pure chlorine bleach. ( not Clorox, it is not pure chlorine)

There were 100 head average size does in this group

I gave 10cc Penicillin SQ, vaccinated them, and left them penned in a dry lot with grass hay, mineral and salt. On day two, I started them on a Sulfa drug in the water, at a rate of 1 gram (1,000mg) per goat. In summer, a goat will drink at least 1.5 gallons/day minimum, non lactating. I put 100 gallons of water in the trough, and 100 grams of Sulfa drug (Albon or Sulmet will do). I turned off the float to the trough to prevent dilution of the drug. After all water was consumed, I turned the float back on. The goats were treated for 9 more days at 750 mg/day/goat. Each goat that was limping had the offending foot treated with Koppertox every day until the limping ceased. Hoof trimming was done as needed during the 10 day period. The goats were kept penned for 14 days, and the vaccination repeated. As the goats quit limping, they were moved to an intermediate pen. Every goat that limped after the second vaccination was boostered again, even if it had only been a few days after the last booster, hooves scrubbed with chlorine bleach again, and given an extra 1 gram of Sulfa drug.

As you move goats to the intermediate area, either inspect hooves, or run them through a foot bath made with 1 pint chlorine per 10 gallons of water. This will help prevent contamination of the intermediate area. By the end of 10 days, all but 5 older does had quit limping. Treatment continued on that 5 head, and a few that relapsed. Some of the goats ended up having been boostered 5-6 times before the hoof cleared up. One doe had so much tissue between the digits that I cut the tissue out, cauterized it, treated the area with Furazolidone ointment and, and wrapped with vet wrap for 2 days. (Furazolidone is no longer approved for food animals use Chlorahexadine ointment) Sulfa drug at 750 mg/day was continued in the water.

As goats in the intermediate pen did not limp, I moved them to the pasture, and gradually got all of them cleared up. Most were well in 14 days. A few, including the 5 old chronics took as long as a month to cure.

I kept them on that high dry pasture for the remainder of the summer. They were boostered one more time before winter. All remained well after that, even the 5 old chronics.

The key is to keep them dry, and keep them vaccinated.

Updated 6-23-2011

Nuflor is very effective in treatment of hoof rot if there are only a few individuals to treat. I start with 6cc/100lbs sq, clean between the digits with Iodine. On day two 3cc/100lbs SQ and Nuflor between the digits topical.

Update April 6 2017

Rumensin in the feed helps prevent erosions in the Rumen caused by Coccidiosis. These erosions; which may be asymptomatic in adult goats, are an entry point for Fusobacterium Necrophorum to invade the bloodstream of the goat. When this happens, liver abscess can occur, and is often fatal. Aggressive treatment will be necessary to save the animal. It is preferable to prevent when possible.

Fusobacterium Necrophorum or Dichelobacter nodosus can cause serious infection, or even death if untreated.

This is what I do and what works for me.

Coni Ross

CR Ranch Blanco, Texas 512-496-3197 crranch@moment.net

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