Beyond the obvious and immediate challenges of excessive rainfall, wet weather may predispose livestock to a painful infection called footrot. Footrot is a bacterial infection of the foot characterized by swelling and pain, often in the interdigital space, and associated lameness. Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Chris Clark said that following a wet spring and recent storms and flooding, there may be a greater risk for this disease in Midwestern cattle herds.
Accurate diagnosis is key, along with appropriate and timely therapy, he said. Systemic antibiotics are used for treatment, and several available drugs are labeled for treatment of footrot. It is essential to have a valid veterinary client-patient relationship to get access to these prescription drugs, and it’s important to follow label directions, including recommended dose, administration route and withdrawal time, Clark said.
PHOTO: Beef cattle grazing in harvested field of corn (Iowa State University Extension & Outreach)
