FOOT ROT/HOOFS
From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)
Samba.SDG@bbt.se
Sent: 06 September 1999 11:03
Subject: Foot Rot
[Text 2606850 from COM]
Prabhus.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
One of the cows at our farm here, has a recurring problem with an infected
hoof. The problem has been persisting for about 6 months. The vet comes to
attend to it but after sometime the foot again gets infected and worms
appear.
I looked up a treatment in my copy of 'The complete Herbal Handbook for Farm
and Stable'.
It recommends using a poultice of linseed, and finally anointing the foot
with 'Stockholm tar' and keeping it covered. Does anyone know how this tar
is made? It does not appear to be available in this country.
Also I would appreciate any other remedies for foot rot.
This is only occurring with one cow, so it may be due to a hoof problem, and
ideas on that?
Thanks prabhus
Your Servant
Samba das
From: Rohita (Dasa) ACBSP (New Talavan MS - USA)
talavan@com.org
Sent: 07 September 1999 00:06
Subject: Foot Rot
[Text 2608505 from COM]
On 06 Sep 1999, Samba das wrote:
Prabhus.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
One of the cows at our farm here, has a recurring problem with an infected
hoof. The problem has been persisting for about 6 months. The vet comes to
attend to it but after sometime the foot again gets infected and worms
appear.
I looked up a treatment in my copy of 'The complete Herbal Handbook for
Farm and Stable'.
It recommends using a poultice of linseed, and finally anointing the foot
with 'Stockholm tar' and keeping it covered. Does anyone know how this tar
is made? It does not appear to be available in this country.
Also I would appreciate any other remedies for foot rot.
This is only occurring with one cow, so it may be due to a hoof problem,
and ideas on that?
Thanks prabhus
Your Servant
Samba das
(Please note: this article implies that the bacteria are the cause of the
problem, this is not so the problem is the decay of tissue due to lack of
cleanliness. The foot must be kept dry and clean and disinfected. The
bacteria's function is to remove the decaying flesh. This animal's hoof has
not had the opportunity to properly heal. It is essential that it undergo a
purification of the blood by feeding of garlic and an application of tar.
Stockholm tar is a resin from a tree that has been heated and distilled
[destructive distillation] the most common source are pine trees. A mixture
of castor oil and tar [50%] after the correct healing will keep the hoof in
proper health. If you do not have the required ingredients look under wounds
in the index and there you may find something that you have easier access
to. Also read all other articles in the book related to hooves and wounds
regardless of species it will give a fuller understanding of the situation.
I have included the following article with comments in brackets so you will
understand the vets vision of modern medicine is based on the fallacy that
germs cause disease. If you read in the initial introduction of all
Ayurvedic books, holistic ones too, you will find a description of the
origin of disease. Removal of the cause and strengthening the animals
natural immune system is the method of cure, many times the required
ingredients are close at hand and there is no need to go to the store - just
the field and woods.)
UCD VET VIEWS CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN, JUNE 1995 FOOTROT DESCRIPTION:
A common condition that often necessitates the use of antibiotics in cattle
is "footrot" or what is medically termed interdigital phlegmon (mucus
between the hoof claws). It is an infection of the soft tissue between the
claws (digits) of the feet and is caused by two anaerobic bacteria (these
are bacteria that grow in the absence of oxygen), Fusobacterium necrophorum
and Bacteroides melaninogenicus. These bacteria are common in the
environment and F. necrophorum is present in the rumen and feces of normal
cattle. Once these bacteria invade the skin of the foot, they rapidly cause
the condition we recognize as footrot. Injury or damage to the skin between
the claws allows this invasion to occur. Common factors that can cause
damage of this sort include stubble fields, small rocks and pebbles, and
abrasive surfaces. Additionally, high temperatures and excess moisture or
humidity causes the skin between the claws to chap and crack allowing these
bacteria to invade. With the wet winter and spring this year, the advent of
hot weather should provide the ideal conditions for footrot to become a
major problem this summer (wet winter hot dry summer). The appearance of
footrot is fairly typical and begins as a swelling of the skin between the
claws. (the skin has been broken and dirt has lodged it self between the
tissues) This swelling usually begins within 24 hours of the onset of the
infection. The toes become separated due to the swelling and the skin
appears reddened. The foot is very painful and the animal can be quite lame
at this time. A fissure or crack develops along the swollen area for part or
all of the length of the interdigital space. Yellow to grayish tissue
extends from this crack and the lesion has a characteristic foul odor. The
area around the coronary band can be swollen and red. Affected cattle can
have a mild fever, refuse feed, lose weight, and be mildly to severely lame.
(the animal must fast 24 hours and should be fed a very green diet - no
grains or concentrates, immediately after the 24 hour period feeding of
garlic or if you have access to neem leaves) Also, it is common for affected
cattle to loss a considerable amount of weight during a bout with footrot.
If the footrot lesion does not heal satisfactorily, very serious problems
can develop. (the foot must be thoroughly cleaned and encouraged by using
black pepper on the wound to promote healing) The structures just beneath
the skin of the foot include the bones of the foot, the tendons, and joint
of the foot. If these underlying structures are invaded by
bacteria-particularly the joints, bones, or tendons, therapy is very
difficult and the chances of recovery are much lower. (this maybe where you
are now, the above feeding and cleaning will need to be done twice daily if
there is no change after five days other means must be employed.) OTHER
POSSIBLE CAUSES: (NOTE, the causal organisms appear to be different but in
reality it is due to lack of cleanliness following stress by injury.)
Footrot can usually be recognized in typical cases; however, a number of
conditions can be confused with footrot. These conditions include corns,
puncture wounds due to nails, needles, or other sharp objects, sole
abscesses, fractures of the bones of the foot, and a newly recognized
condition that primarily affects dairy cattle, "hairy footwarts". All lame
feet should be carefully examined and it should not be assumed that all lame
cattle have footrot. If you have any questions regarding the condition
affecting your cattle, you should contact your veterinarian for diagnosis
and advice. Treatment of footrot is relatively straightforward and if
instituted early in the course of the disease is usually successful. For
mild cases, local treatment can be accomplished by thoroughly cleaning the
foot, applying an astringent (such as 5% copper sulfate), and then applying
an antibacterial dressing. For moderate or severe cases, systemic antibiotic
therapy is usually recommended. Antibiotics that are usually effective
include penicillin, oxytetracycline, ampicillin, or sulfa drugs. All label
directions should be carefully followed including withdrawal times before
slaughter. If a dose higher than that listed on the label is used, the
antibiotic is being used in an extra-label manner and a veterinarian's
prescription is needed and an extended withdrawal time determined by your
veterinarian must be observed. If deeper structures of the foot become
infected, consult your veterinarian.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
The most important preventative measures are to insure that damage to the
feet of cattle is minimized. Other preventive measures include footbaths,
feeding of organic iodine, feeding of zinc methionine, and/or vaccines.
A. FOOTBATHS
Footbaths can be used to prevent cases; however, they are not particularly
useful in the face of an outbreak. The most common solutions used are (1) 2%
formalin, and (2) 5% copper sulfate. Both compounds must be used with
caution from both animal health and environmental aspects. The formalin
solution is very caustic and will damage your skin or eyes if splashed or
spilled. The copper sulfate can be fatal to cattle if they drink it and must
be disposed of carefully to avoid damaging aquatic plants or animals.
Footbaths should be used 3 to 4 times per week to be effective and should
not be used for long periods of time (greater than 3 weeks, longer than this
is determental). The cattle should have clean feet before entering the foot
baths ,pre-washing is necessary, and only about 300 head can be done before
the solution should be changed. Using formalin footbaths too frequently
(daily for 4-5 days) can cause irreversible damage to the cattle's feet.
(note they understand the source is lack of cleanliness, 'pre-washing is
necessary'.)
B. FEEDING IODINE
Feeding organic iodine (ethylenediamine dihydriodide; EDDI) can help prevent
footrot. The EDDI should be fed at 10-15 milligrams per head per day.
Feeding more than this will not be any more effective and can cause the
cattle to have excess salivation. EDDI fed in loose salt mixes works very
well, while EDDI should not be fed in salt block formulations as it does not
seem to be available to the cattle. Zinc methionine (Zinpro) is also thought
to be helpful in preventing footrot in feedlot situations and might be of
value in range or pasture situations. (Iodine is a very active element and
cleaning - disinfectant agent)
C. VACCINES
(Vaccines are in opposition to Ayurvedic practices, if you read Srila
Prabhupada's comments - LCL lectures 1976 - you will see that he respects
the research of Louis Pasteur, but points out how his research was altered
by those that followed). There are commercial vaccines that have limited
effectiveness in preventing footrot in cattle; it is important to
strategically time the administration of these vaccines so that maximum
protection is achieved during the time of year when cattle are most at risk.
Your veterinarian will also know of local factors that may be of importance
in preventing footrot, so be sure to discuss this matter with him/her before
spending a lot of time, money, or effort on control and prevention measures.
Since footrot is an infectious disease it is important that your cattle's
immunity is not abnormal and thus a good feeding and supplementation program
is necessary. The key to managing footrot is prevention, because treating a
large number of individual animals can take a lot of the fun out of summer.
John Maas, DVM, MS Diplomate, ACVN & ACVIM Extension Veterinarian School of
Veterinary Medicine University of California-Davis.
Ys, Rohita dasa
From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)
Samba.SDG@bbt.se
Sent: 24 September 1999 16:26
Subject: Foot Rot
[Text 2652173 from COM]
Dear Prabhus.
The plot thickens.
In between the hoof, where it opens, there is a growth of flesh, a wart type
thing, but it is soft. When it grows bigger, the size of an apricot maybe,
it breaks, because there is really no space to expand. Then it bleeds and it
attracts flies and they infect everything. Then it reduces a bit and when it
is cleaned and treated it starts growing again...
This one cow she has three such growths
From: Ann Fletcher
ann@akn.quik.co.nz
Sent: 10 November 1999 21:12
Subject: hoof care.
[Text 2769548 from COM]
PAMHO AGTSP.
I read with interest your diary of events in Ireland. We have a device here
in NZ called a "Hoofnac". Many of our younger trained cows/oxen are ok to do
their feet but as I'm sure for many farms around the world, it is an issue
especially with older untrained cows/oxen. This device simply has a vice at
the bottom that can be screwed onto any rail of a race. It then simply
unfolds into a right angle with the top bar sticking out across the back of
the cow (not touching the back though). From this bar you draw down a soft
but strong rope that you loop around just above the hock and fix it with the
ring . You then simply winch up the leg not too high, just enough to treat
the hoof. This hoofnac comes with a video and I could get pamphlets and send
them to anyone who may be interested.
Your servant, Ananta Krsna Dasi
