How to Prevent and Treat Foot Rot in Sheep? Practical Methods Explained

Foot rot in sheep presents as: affected sheep lameness, preferring to lie down rather than stand, and difficulty walking. There are often ulcerated surfaces between the hooves, and in severe cases the hoof horn rots and becomes deformed, causing the affected sheep to be unable to rise from lying down.

Affected sheep should have their hooves trimmed promptly, especially during humid, hot seasons. If the interdigital space is rotting, it can be washed with 5% iodine tincture; if the soft tissue of the hoof is rotting, it should be thoroughly incised and cleaned, then packed and bandaged with 5% copper sulfate powder in the sole hole or cavity of the hoof, and then coated with pine tar to achieve healing.