Adult sheep lameness

Question 1

Top 3 contagious cause of lameness

Answer 1

Footrot
Interdigital dermatitis (Scald)
Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis (CODD)

Question 2

Top 3 NON-contagious cause of lameness

Answer 2

Granulomas (Toe granulomas)
Shelly hoof
White line disease
Abscess
Trauma

Question 3

What bacteria is responsibe for causing foot rot and scald

Answer 3

Dichelobacter nodosus

Question 4

Treatment of interdigital dermatitis for lambs for individuals and for group outbreaks

Answer 4

Individuals: Antibiotic spray
Group outbreaks: Footbath fortnightly, 2-3% formalin, move to clean field

Question 5

Treatment of interdigital dermatitis for adults for individuals and for group outbreaks

Answer 5

Antibiotic injection and spray affected individuals
Outbreaks: Footbath and move to clean pasture

Question 6

Does footrot cause scald or scald cause foot rot

Answer 6

Scald cause footrot. Starts from interdigital space

Question 7

Why do we not trim foot of sheep with foot rot

Answer 7

Contaminates environment for longer

Question 8

Treatment of foot rot

Answer 8

Antibiotic injection (lasting minimum of 3 days)- Oxytetracycline
Antibiotic spray
Anti-inflammatories
Isolate
Delayed treatment = delayed recovery
Foot trimming = delayed recovery

Question 9

3 ways to reduce disease challenge of foot rot

Answer 9

1. Quarantine
2. Avoid
3. Treat

Question 10

Minimum days to quarantine a sheep with foot rot

Answer 10

Isolate for min. 30 days

Question 11

Outline ways to avoid spread

Answer 11

Avoid unnecessary gatherings
Reduce time gathered
Hard, well drained surface without loose stones
Clean and disinfect between groups
Move mobile facilities between groups/gathers
Lime on standings surface
Footbath after gathering

Question 12

2 ways to increase resilence

Answer 12

1. Culling
2. Vaccination

Question 13

Criteria for culling for foot rot

Answer 13

Cull if 2 bouts within 12 months
Cull if chronically lame

Question 14

Outline foot rot vaccination

Answer 14

Foot Vax- Covers the 10 common strains
Irritant vaccine however, given not in breeding months
It is a treatment and prevention
Contraindication: Moxidectin 1% injection

Question 15

Outline Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis and why it could be difficult to treat

Answer 15

Treponemes thought to be involved
Very painful in some, minimal lameness in others

Question 16

Treatment for CODD

Answer 16

Amoxicillin, long acting and may need repeating
Macrolides – second line
Anti-inflammatories
Isolate

Question 17

Presentation of CODD

Answer 17

Raw, often red lesion, starting at coronary band. Loss of horn capsule if untreated

Question 18

Presentation of scald

Answer 18

Moist, hairless, white or pink interdigital space

Question 19

Presentation of footrot

Answer 19

Distinctive smell. Underrun horn progressing from interdigital space. Black crumbly debris

Question 20

Cause of Granulomas (Toe granulomas)

Answer 20

Trauma of capsule
Over trimming
Foreign bodies (e.g. thorns)
Secondary to infectious damage (e.g. footrot)

Question 21

Treatment of granulomas

Answer 21

Remove granuloma
Local region anaesthesia
Prevent recurrence: Cautery, Copper sulphate bandage
Dry conditions
Anti-inflammatories
Control secondary infections

Question 22

What is shelly hoof

Answer 22

Detachment of the hoof horn wall from the underlying epidermis
Unknown aetiology
Lameness due to impacted material
Avoid by Careful trimming

Question 23

What is white line disease

Answer 23

Small defect
Allows access for dirt and bacteria
Abscess formation
Often ruptures above coronary band

Question 24

Treatment of white line disease

Answer 24

Trimming to allow drainage
Antibiotics and NSAIDs

Question 25

Most common bacteria causing joint ill- Septic polyarthirits

Answer 25

Streptococcus dysgalactiae (lambs)

Question 26

Diagnosis of Joint Ill

Answer 26

Joint aspirate and culture
Post mortem culture

Question 27

Treatment of Joint Ill

Answer 27

NSAIDs or one-off steroid injection
Penicillin, amoxicillin, florfenicol
Long course, min 7 days, ideally 10 – 14 days

Question 28

Prevention of joint ill

Answer 28

Good colostrum management
Navel dipping, 10% iodine ± spirit, at birth and 4 hrs later
Good lambing time hygiene
Keep dip solution fresh and clean
Tick control

Question 29

White muscle disease is caused by

Answer 29

Selenium and/or vitamin E deficiency

Question 30

Outline the use of footbaths and products used

Answer 30

Useful – if done well!
Spreads infection – if done poorly

Formalin 2 – 3% (lower than cattle concentration)
Zinc sulphate 10% (need to stand in for 15 – 30 mins)

Organic material breaks down formalin

Question 31

Outline indications for foot trimming

Answer 31

White line disease (although often too late)
Shelly hoof
To diagnose condition if can’t see
Permanent indoor sheep

Question 32

Cons to foot trimming

Answer 32

Delays healing in footrot
Can spread infection on shears
Microfissures allow bacteria access
Overtrimming -> Granulomas