DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS 199 

 FOOT ROT 



(Foul in the Foot) 



Cause : Foot Eot is produced by inflammation of the 

 soft structures of the foot between the claws or toes. It. 

 may be due to an overgrowth and inward pressure, etc.^ 

 or from filth accumulating and hardening between the^ 

 claws, producing inflammation and softening or ulcer- 

 ation of the skin in the interdigital space (between the 

 claws). Under some conditions several sheep or goats 

 in the same drove become affected at the same time, 

 leading many to think that the disease is contagious. 

 When Foot Eot appears in a very short time, among 

 sheep or goats, this condition can almost always be 

 traced to filth, irritation, etc. 



Symptoms: The animal is observed to limp when 

 walking. On careful examination of the foot we find it 

 hot, swollen above the claws and in the soft parts be- 

 tween them, frequently spreading the claws apart to a 

 considerable extent, or the inflammation may have ad- 

 vanced to softening and sloughing of the soft structure 

 between the claws. If this condition is neglected at this 

 stage, deep abscesses form and the pus burrows under 

 the horny wall, and the joints within the hoof become 

 inflamed and destroyed, in which case the treatment is 

 difficult and recovery will be very arduous. 



Treatment: In the early stages of the disease, be- 

 fore the pus burrows beneath the horny structures of 

 the foot, any foreign substances impacted between the 

 claws should be removed. Then place a trough about one 

 foot wide, six to eight inches high, and twelve to sixteen 

 feet long, and fill with water and Coal Tar Dip, diluted 

 in proportions of one part dip to fifty parts of water. 

 Build a fence on each side of the trough, just wide enough 

 for one sheep to pass through, and compel every sheep 

 to walk through the solution slowly. 



This treatment should be repeated once or twice a 



