Foot Rot in Beef Cattle: Etiology, Clinical Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

Etiology

Primary pathogen: Fusobacterium necrophorum (anaerobic, Gram-negative rod). Synergistic with Dichelobacter nodosus, Trueperella pyogenes, Staphylococcus spp. Requires skin barrier breach (wet/muddy conditions, abrasions).

Clinical Signs

• Acute lameness (often unilateral)
• Interdigital swelling, erythema, heat, pain
• Fissure/ulceration with necrotic debris, foul odor
• Coronary band involvement → "super foul"
• Fever, anorexia, weight loss, decreased milk yield

Complications

• Deep digital sepsis (joint, tendon sheath, bone)
• Septicemia
• Laminitis (systemic inflammatory response)
• Death if untreated

Treatment

• Systemic antibiotics: Long-acting oxytetracycline, florfenicol, ceftiofur, tulathromycin (per vet prescription).
• Local: Debridement, topical antimicrobials (copper sulfate, zinc sulfate), bandaging.
• Analgesia: NSAIDs (flunixin meglumine).
• Isolate affected animals.

Prevention

• Drainage, dry bedding, scrape lots.
• Regular hoof trimming.
• Avoid overcrowding.
• Balanced nutrition (Zn, Cu, Se, biotin for hoof integrity).
• Footbaths (copper sulfate, formalin) in high-prevalence herds.