VETERINARY NOTES

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 70, Issue 5, 15 May 1945, Page 527

VETERINARY NOTES

Foul-in-the-foot of Dairy Cows

FOUL-in-the-foot is one of the most serious types of lameness affecting dairy cows. It is due to the infection of small wounds in the vicinity of the foot by a common germ, the bacillus necrophorus. Features of this organism are: — 1. It grows best in the absence of air (oxygen); hence is most active in closed protected situations. 2. It forms a powerful toxin, leading to the death of surrounding tissues;. thus, there is always a core or area of dead, decaying tissue present.

Symptoms The symptoms are obvious—marked lameness and pain, then swelling of the parts just round top of the hoof, and later breaking of the skin between the toes. If relief is not promptly obtained there is general disturbance, reduction of milk, failure of appetite, and marked loss of condition; sometimes after the skin breaks a core of dead tissue separates, pus escapes, and relief is obtained, lameness becomes less and general symptoms subside; sometimes the swelling persists. Infection may enter one of the small joints of the toe or a tendon sheath, and the case drags on for months.

Treatment

In the first place, every cow showing lameness should at once have the foot of affected limb thoroughly cleaned out and washed or soaked in a suitable antiseptic unless there is another obvious cause of lameness. Frequently this may prevent further developments. Should swelling appear round coronet and no relief occur in twenty-four hours, a strong antiseptic applied to skin between toes may hasten opening of tissues and separation of the dead core. One may apply a small pad soaked in pure Jeyes 1 ’ fluid, bandaged in place between the toes for twentyfour hours, or rub in a little 1 in 8 biniodide of mercury ointment. Once the dead core comes away a tar bandage can be applied, and the case usually goes on quite well. In more persistent cases prolonged soaking in warm solution of Condy’s crystals, teaspoonful to three pints, or chloride of lime at the same strength, can be tried.

Between treatments the foot should be kept clean and dry, and poulticing is not desirable. The cow should be kept where much travelling or entrance to dirty yards can be avoided and feed and water are available without exertion. Should the disease process localise in one of the small toe joints and veterinary assistance be available, the toe may be amputated which cuts the case much shorter and prevents further loss of condition. Causes The conditions under which this trouble is most often met are where approaches to shed are filthy, thus both harbouring the germ and keeping the feet soft, and where, in addition, cows have to travel over

material likely to cause minor foot injuries, such as . sharp metal chips, coarse rough stones, broken concrete,, manuka fascines, stumps, etc. While it is mainly a disease of the spring and of muddy conditions it may appear during dry weather, but, if so, factors leading to foot injuries must be operating, and it must be admitted that the organism may remain alive for weeks in moderately dry soil or even in dust.

Preventive Measures In view of the loss which may occur, prevention is important. Should cases occur, clean up dirty approaches and gateways and lime such areas, heavily. To avoid dirty gateways or alleyways it may be necessary to make a new temporary approach to the shed. Do away with possible causes of foot injury already named. In some sheds where infection has continued to recur a footbath containing bluestone, ■ through which cows walk when entering the shed,, has been found beneficial.

Mortality in Lambs Grazed on Linen Flax Straw

A CASE has recently been reA CASE has recently been re--21. ported of considerable mortality in a line of about 1,000 lambs running on rape with access to an area of linseed flax which had been headed and carried the fibre only and a similar area of threshed pea straw. Deaths commenced about eight days after the lambs went on the block. They were then moved on to pasture and the linseed ploughed in. Deaths continued to occur up till nearly three weeks after removal from the linseed fibre, and close on 100 lambs were lost. Post-mortem examinations revealed the paunch or first stomach packed

with a mass of the linen flax fibre,, and deaths were apparently due to a form of starvation from the inability' of the animal to take in other food material. The flax fibre would resist digestion for a long period. Treatment was not attempted as nothing, less than a surgical operation for the removal of the mass could have been, of benefit. This note is put forward to indicate the possible risk attached to* the grazing of lambs on such feed. The fibre , stalks were apparently attractive to the lambs, and a similar result might be possible with older sheep, or even, with cattle.