Foot Rot in Goats

May 23, 2024Dr. Katie Estill DVMHealth, Members Only

Reading Time: 4 minutes

FALL IS HERE IN THE northern hemisphere, with its cooler temperatures and hopefully increased moisture (especially in my droughtridden portion of the West).

While rain and snow are much needed during the fall and winter months, they can also increase livestock disease risk. Goats in areas with increased wet and cold are at higher risk of foot rot.

Foot rot is a bacterial infection of the skin between the hooves, or interdigital skin, and within the hoof’s horn. A less severe infection, confined to only the interdigital skin, is often called “foot scald.” The bacteria responsible for foot rot are Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is found in the normal intestinal tract of ruminants and readily lives in the outside environment.
Dichelobacter nodosus is much less hardy in the environment — living for only 10 to 14 days. However, it can travel in the hooves of infected animals.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is more commonly associated with foot scald rather than the more severe foot rot. Dichelobacter nodosus is much more aggressive and often invades the hoof wall, leading to foot rot. For these bacteria to cause infection in the hoof, there must be trauma to the interdigital skin to allow the bacteria to reside.

What causes foot rot?

Several factors increase the likelihood of a goat developing foot rot. Cold, muddy environments allow for the packing of mud or debris between goat toes, increasing the risk of trauma to the skin. Grazing stubble feeds, like alfalfa or corn, also increase the risk of interdigital skin trauma. As summer grasses decline, grazing animals may have lower feed quality. Animals with inadequate nutrition are at higher risk of infection. The introduction of animals carrying the bacteria D. nodosus into a herd can also put animals at increased risk. Certain animals and breeds, however, have an increased risk of infection by their nature. For instance, meat goat breeds are more likely to suffer from foot rot than dairy goat breeds.

Foot rot is a bacterial infection of the skin between the hooves, or interdigital skin, and within the hoof’s horn. A less severe infection, confined to only the interdigital skin, is often called “foot scald.”

Symptoms of foot rot

Animals with foot rot are often first noticed due to signs of lameness when observed limping or even grazing on their knees. The findings in the infected hoof depend on the severity of the disease. Mildly affected goats — those with only scald — will have swelling and redness of the skin between their hooves. Those with more severe disease will have disease evident in the horn of the foot and can even have separation of the horn from the foot. Closely inspect any animals showing signs of lameness. Abscesses of the hoof, laminitis, and even trauma can appear similar to foot rot at a glance. While goats tend to develop less severe foot rot than sheep, the condition can still be severe, especially if left untreated.

Treatments for foot rot

Treatment for foot rot depends on the severity of the disease. Often, animals with only mild disease show improvement with change to a clean, dry environment. Animals with more severe disease may need more intensive care.

Trim the hoof and pare away any areas of disease.
Antibiotics can treat the infection. However, most antibiotics used for foot rot in cattle aren’t labeled for goats, so using them for goats will require a prescription from your herd veterinarian.
Animals’ feet can be placed in a copper or zinc sulfate foot bath to dry the foot after trimming, making the hoof a less hospitable environment for bacteria.
Use of anti-inflammatory medications can improve animals’ comfort. Many or all animals may require treatment in herds that have reoccurring outbreaks of foot rot.

Preventing foot rot

As in most diseases, prevention of foot rot is far preferable to treatment. While no one can control the weather, take steps to reduce its effects on animals.

For pasture animals, periodically moving water and feed grounds during wet winter can reduce mud build-up in areas where animals congregate.
Establishing good water drainage and dry areas for smaller pens can significantly reduce risk.
Appropriate trimming of hooves, particularly before the wet season, can also reduce infection.
Ensuring all animals have adequate nutrition for their stage of life can help ensure a healthy immune system.
Pregnant or lactating animals significantly increase energy requirements, particularly during cold weather.
Having adequate mineral supplementation will ensure no deficiencies. Provide goats with free-choice, loose minerals.
As D. Nodosus infections travel in goat hooves, quarantine all new goats for 10 to 14 days before introduction into the herd. Trimming the hoof at the beginning of quarantine can further help reduce the risk of introducing unwanted bacteria.
In herds with a higher risk of infection, routine foot baths can reduce the incidence of foot rot.
There is also a vaccine available against D. Nodosus for sheep. This vaccine is off-label for goats but can be used with your veterinarian’s approval in cases of elevated risk.

Establishing a plan for managing foot rot in your herd before the wet season is imperative to management success. Assessing health, particularly of the hooves, in the early fall can help to identify animals with increased risk. Because the environment worsens the condition, assess your winter pasture areas and what the effects of cold and wet may have on them to identify ways to minimize mud and muck. If your herd is in a particularly risky environment, consider breeding or buying goats with genetic resistance to foot rot.

As always, working with your herd veterinarian and planning for foot rot management and treatment can help ensure you have anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics available when needed.

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DR. KATIE ESTILL DVM is a veterinarian consultant for Goat Journal, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, and Countryside online. She works with goats and other large livestock at Desert Trails Veterinary Services in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of Goat Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.