Footrot in Sheep:

footrot is a contagious bacterial disease of sheep and goats caused by the organism D.nodosus and a number of other bacteria.Footrot is a debilitating disease with significant economic loss to the producer.The 3 main environmental factors necessary for a footrot infection to establish and then transmit from sheep to sheep are:
1-average daily temperature of 10c or higher for 4-5 days.
2-adequate moisture
3-pasture density to make feet susceptible to infection
Symptoms:
usually more than 1 foot is affected,lameness,espically in heavy sheep,no swelling,no pus discharge,but a black/grey slime like substance may be present.Heat may be present in some cases.Lesions have a putrid odour and may be flyblown,spreads from sheep of all ages when conditions are favourable,no brerak in the coronet skin,but separation of the inner sensitive horn and outer hard horn.
Treatment:
footrot is eradicated by CULLING,not CURING.Footbathing alone will not stop footrot,but can reduce the spread during this time of outbreak.
Zinc Sulphate-sheep should be treated every 5-7 days,walking them through a 10% zinc sulphate solution in a footbath at least 6m long,holding them in the bath for 15 minutes,followed by drying on concrete.
Radicate-copper based footbath solution,hold in solution for 15 minutes,then air dry for 1 hour,repeat in 1-2 weeks.
Antibiotics-seek advise through your local veterinarian.
A producer will loose some animals,treatments will help to soften losses,doing nothing,producer will loose everything.