foot rot

animal disease

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Foot rot, also known as hoofrot, is a progressive inflammation of the feet in animals like sheep, goats, and cattle. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The term can also refer to a plant disease where the stem near the ground rots. Hooves are hard coverings protecting the toes of ungulate mammals, made of keratin, and they grow throughout an animal's life. Hoof-and-mouth disease is a different, highly contagious viral disease affecting even-toed mammals, characterized by blisters in the mouth and on the skin, including around the hoof.12

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Diseases
Foot rot, caused by an infection of the soft tissue between the toes, results in extreme lameness and even loss of the hoof. The more persistent type is caused by a specific organism that is difficult to treat. The pain and the restricted movement of…
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Foot rot, caused by an infection of the soft tissue between the toes, results in extreme lameness and even loss of the hoof. The more persistent type is caused by a specific organism that is difficult to treat. The pain and the restricted movement of…
Read More