Lameness in sheep

Question 1

what does lameness in sheep do to ewe + lamb mortality

Answer 1

increases the rates

Question 2

List the clinical signs of interdigital dermatitis (scald) in sheep

Answer 2

inflammation of skin between claws
reddening
paste
white/ greay scum

Question 3

List the clinical signs of footrot

Answer 3

Smell
Grey ooze
Under running of hoof horn near to skin between claws
Under-running of horn anywhere

Question 4

what is the most common cause of lameness in sheep

Answer 4

footrot

Question 5

List the bacterias involved in footrot and interdigital dermatitis in sheep

Answer 5

Dichelobacter nodosus is the suspected causing agent
and Fusobacterium necrophorum potentially worsens the disease

Question 6

should we treat footrot and interdigital dermatitis as one condition or as to separate conditions

Answer 6

as one condition

Question 7

describe contagious ovine digitial dermatitis (CODD)

Answer 7

highly invasive and painful lesions that start at the coronary band

Question 8

List the clinical signs of CODD

Answer 8

lesions at the coronary band, rapid invasion and underrunning of the hoof wall - no or little interdigital space involvement

Question 9

what causes CODD

Answer 9

spirochaetes and treponemes
+/- D nodosus infection

Question 10

Describe how to treat CODD

Answer 10

long-acting amoxicillin or oxytetracycline

Question 11

Does foot trimming help with CODD

Answer 11

no- increased foot trimming increases the prevalanece of CODD

Question 12

does foot bathing help with CODD

Answer 12

no - it may help lameness but doesn’t help prevalence of the disease

Question 13

what is the most important factor for reducing CODD

Answer 13

high biosecurity levels

Question 14

Describe toe granuloma

Answer 14

inflamed granulomatous tissue coming out from under the horn

Question 15

what can cause toe granulomas

Answer 15

snipping into sensitive part of the toe during trimming ot chronic unresolved footrot

Question 16

Describe how to treat toe granulomas

Answer 16

IVRA and cauterise or surgically remove

Question 17

Describe white line disease

Answer 17

defect on the abaxial solar surface of the horn at the junction of the wall and the sole

Question 18

List the 2 presentations of white line disease

Answer 18

shelly hoof
toe abscess

Question 19

Describe shelly hoof - white line disease

Answer 19

soil/debris accumulates at the white line - seen as black half moon
often no lameness seen but can occur is pus and/or damage and/or inflammation occurs

Question 20

Describe toe abscess- white line disease

Answer 20

sudden onset of painful lameness
pus tracks up and breaks out at the coronary band
small localised black spot seen

Question 21

Describe how to treat toe abscess

Answer 21

poultice to encourage pus bursting out

Question 22

Describe foot abscess

Answer 22

deep sepsis of the distal interphalangeal joint - often sequelae to trauma/infection

Question 23

List the clinical signs of foot abscessess

Answer 23

pain
swelling heat and discharging sinus at the coronary band or interdigital space

Question 24

Describe how to treat foot abscesses

Answer 24

surgical amputation of the digit
may attempt antibiotic flushing if early enough in the disease process- although this is usually unsuccessful

Question 25

Describe how to treat footrot/ scald

Answer 25

injectable and spray antibiotics- amoxicillin or oxytetracycline

Question 26

Why do we not trim scald/ footrot cases

Answer 26

it worsens the disease and increases recovery time

Question 27

Describe the 5 point plan to treat footrot and scald

Answer 27

1. Avoid spread of infection
2. Treat individuals quickly and effectively
3. Quarantine bought-in sheep
4. Cull persistent offenders
5. Vaccinate against footrot

Question 28

How can we avoid spreading Footrot/ scald

Answer 28

avoid crowding sheep into muddy areas

Question 29

List 4 things to have successful/effective footbathing in sheep

Answer 29

good facilities
clean feet before footbathing
stand on hard surface after footbathing
use zinc sulphate

Question 30

how long should we quarantine new sheep for

Answer 30

3 weeks

Question 31

what should not be given to sheep vaccinated with footvax

Answer 31

moxidectin