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Sheep footrot
Footrot is a contagious infection of the sheep's foot. It is one of the most widespread and costly diseases in sheep farming, and one of the main causes of lameness. The infection begins between the hooves, in the thin skin of the interdigi...
What is it?
Footrot is a contagious infection of the sheep's foot. It is one of the most widespread and costly diseases in sheep farming, and one of the main causes of lameness.
The infection begins between the hooves, in the thin skin of the interdigital space, then progresses under the horn, which it peels off. In advanced forms, the hoof comes off.
A lame sheep suffers. She moves less, grazes less, loses weight, produces less milk, sometimes aborts and reproduces less well. The weight of this disease is not measured by the number of deaths but by the number of animals that are permanently ill.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Lameness, first of one foot, often of one forelimb, then of several.
Sheep that grazes on its knees, remains lying down, gets up with difficulty, lets itself be left behind by the crowd.
Red, moist and irritated skin between the hooves, with a very strong characteristic odor.
Horn detached at the junction with the skin, gray or blackish matter under the horn, hoof which becomes loose in advanced forms.
Claws too long, deformed.
Marked pain when manipulating the foot.
Weight loss, deteriorating wool or hair, drop in milk production.
In an affected herd, several animals lame at the same time, and the number increases in wet weather.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
Footrot is caused by the association of two bacteria. One, present in the soil and feces, damages the skin between the hooves. The other, Dichelobacter nodosus, is the real culprit: it detaches the horn and does not survive long outside the sheep's foot.
This is a crucial point: the reservoir of the disease is the infected sheep in the flock, not the soil. Contaminated soil ceases to be dangerous after a certain time without sheep, while a carrier animal maintains the infection indefinitely.
Humidity and heat soften the skin and the horn: they open the door, but they do not create the disease on their own.
Forms of different severity exist depending on the strain of bacteria involved, which explains why some herds suffer much more than others.
Purchase of animals without quarantine or foot examination.
Wet seasons and areas, muddy grounds, wet watering areas.
Wet and dirty litter in the sheepfold, high density of animals.
Neglected trimming, long hooves that retain mud.
Too aggressive trimming, which makes the flesh raw and facilitates infection.
Mixture of animals of different origins, gatherings and transports.
Sheep already weakened or deficient, elderly animals.
Absence of isolation of the lame: the same passage areas are constantly recontaminated.
Transmission
Transmission occurs from foot to foot, through the ground, litter and damp passage areas where animals congregate: around watering troughs, containment corridors, entrances to sheepfolds.
Lame animals sow bacteria wherever they go: this is why their isolation is the most effective measure on a daily basis.
The introduction of purchased animals is the number one entry route into a healthy herd. An animal can be a carrier without a visible limp.
Trimming material passed from a diseased foot to a healthy foot without being disinfected carries the infection.
Wet periods and animal gatherings increase contagion.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
Have the first lame people examined rather than waiting: not all lameness is foot rot, and the treatment is not the same.
The veterinarian picks up and examines the feet one by one, assesses the lesion, its smell and its extent, and determines whether it is foot rot or something else: foot abscess, foreign body, wound, simple fork, or disease affecting several joints.
He establishes a herd-wide plan with you, because treating an isolated animal without acting on the whole lot leads nowhere.
It evaluates the frequency of cases, the organization of batches and passages, the conduct of trimming, and the possible place of the footbath and vaccination.
In very affected herds, he can propose a strategy for eliminating animals which relapse: they are the ones who maintain the disease.
Treatment
The treatment is individual and collective at the same time.
On the animal: careful trimming of the detached areas to ventilate the lesion, without exposing the flesh, and treatment prescribed by the veterinarian. Depending on the severity, local treatment, general treatment with antibiotics, and pain management.
Pain should not be neglected: a lame sheep does not feed properly, and that is where the economic loss occurs.
Systematically isolate lame animals from the rest of the flock, in a dry area: this is the most effective measure to stop the spread.
The footbath is a useful collective tool, provided it is used correctly: clean feet at the start, sufficient passage time, animals left to dry on a dry area upon exit, solution renewed when it is dirty. The product, its concentration and the rhythm of the passages are prescribed by the veterinarian: if used incorrectly, a footbath burns the feet or is of no use.
Disinfect the trimming equipment between each animal, otherwise you will carry the disease from foot to foot.
Animals which relapse despite well-conducted treatments must be culled: they maintain the infection in the herd.
No product, no dose should be taken from a neighbor or from one year to the next: ask your veterinarian for instructions.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Systematic quarantine of purchased animals, with examination and trimming of the feet before mixing them with the herd: this is the most important measure, because foot rot almost always enters through a purchase.
Inspect feet regularly and identify lame ones early.
Immediately isolate any limping animal and treat it.
Maintain the hooves by regular and measured trimming, neither neglected nor excessive.
Dry passage areas, drain areas around water troughs and doors, stone muddy corridors.
Clean, dry and abundant litter in the sheepfold, reasonable density.
Disinfect trimming equipment between animals.
Do not pass the treated animals over the areas where the lame people stayed just before.
Reform animals with repeated relapses.
Keep a written record of lame animals: this allows you to identify those who return each year.
Vaccination
A vaccine against footrot bacteria exists and is used in several countries as an aid to control in affected herds. Its availability varies by region.
It reduces the severity and frequency of lesions, but it is never enough on its own: without trimming, without isolating the lame, without drying out areas of passage and without quarantine upon purchase, the disease returns.
The timing of vaccination and the number of injections should be decided by the veterinarian depending on the season and the situation of the herd.
Local reactions at the injection site are possible: your veterinarian will explain to you what is expected and what should alert you.
Possible complications
Weight loss and drop in body condition in lame animals, which graze less.
Decrease in milk production and poor growth of suckling lambs.
Decrease in fertility, rams which no longer breed due to lack of ability to move.
Abortion in very affected ewes.
Loss of the hoof and permanent deformities of the foot.
Deeper foot infections, abscesses, joint damage.
In uncontrolled herds, disease permanently established, with waves during each wet period.
Chronic suffering of animals, with a direct impact on their well-being.
When to see a veterinarian
One or more of your sheep is lame, even slightly.
An animal grazes on its knees or remains lying away from the crowd.
You smell a strong odor when you lift one foot, or you see the horn coming off.
A hoof comes off or the foot is very swollen.
The number of lame people increases from one week to the next.
Animals relapse despite treatments already given.
You have just introduced purchased animals and lameness appears in the weeks that follow.
Prognosis
An animal treated early usually heals well, with the foot returning to normal.
An animal treated late, with a loose hoof, often retains a deformity and relapses.
On the scale of the herd, control is possible but it requires consistency: it is based on quarantine upon purchase, immediate isolation of the lame, trimming, drying of the passages and culling of relapses. Farms that apply the package see lameness becoming rare.
Frequently asked questions
Does foot rot go away on its own when the weather dries?
The number of visible cases is decreasing, but the disease does not disappear: animals remain carriers and start again during the following wet period. This is why we must treat and isolate even when the situation seems to be improving.
Should all sheep be trimmed systematically?
Regular and measured trimming is useful, but too aggressive trimming leaves the flesh raw and aggravates the infection. Ask your veterinarian to show you the right action, and disinfect the equipment between each animal.
Is the footbath enough to solve the problem?
No. It is an additional tool, effective only if it is used well and if it accompanies the isolation of the lame, the trimming and drying of passage areas. The product and how to use it are questions to the veterinarian.
How can I avoid bringing foot rot into my herd?
By never introducing a purchased animal without quarantine and without examining its feet. This is by far the main route of entry, and an animal can be a carrier without clearly limping.
A lame sheep, is it really serious if it still eats?
Yes. She suffers, she moves less and grazes less than the others: she loses weight, produces less milk and reproduces less well. And as long as it remains in the group, it contaminates its peers.
Is footrot dangerous for humans?
No, the bacteria in question are not transmitted to humans. It is still prudent to wash your hands after handling feet and to wear gloves in case of wounds.
References
EFSA — Autorité européenne de sécurité des aliments
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
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