Bush Foot is a secondary bacterial infection caused by some form of defect or penetration of the hoof wall, sole, or heel. Bacteria enters the heel through erosion of the sole, heel, or toe, a sand crack on the wall of the hoof, or through a separation of the wall and sole along the white line. When the abscesses erupt at the coronet band, the condition is called Bush Foot.
Infection spreads through the hoof through deep necrotic ulcers involving laminae and coronary band, through necrotic tracks the reach the coronary band and then form ulcers, or when infection penetrates deeply to involve the deep digital flexor tendon, bones, and joints of the foot. The infectious component of the problem is dependent on bacteria present when damaged hoof is exposed to it.
Several environmental conditions can contribute to the condition. The conditions themselves are not transmissible, but pigs exposed to them are at risk.
Fresh concrete contributes to hoof defects
Can become a herd problem when the environment is wet, unhygienic, and with poor bedding
Bacteria con infect lesions and cause septicemia or bacteremia
Some signs to look for:
Lameness such as pigs walking on their toes, paddling or goose-stepping, reluctance to move or sitting on their haunches
Hooves are not to the touch
Claw (usually claws of hind feet) are unusually warm, painful, and a lesion is apparent
Severe pain occurs when the abscess develops at the coronary band – the leg is often held off the ground
Cellulitis can develop in the limb and cause swelling up to the hock
Treatment includes paring the lesions, poulticing, and bandaging followed up with aggressive antibiotic treatments. Pus in sow hooves becomes dry and can be difficult to drain.
To control the occurrence of Bush Foot, there are some key steps to follow:
Improve hygiene and management
Ensure concrete with rounded edges and smoothed aggregate
Slats in good condition and no sharp edges
Include appropriate biotin in rations to improve foot health
Your veterinary surgeon will advise but Lincomycin is one of the more favoured treatments due to good tissue penetration; it must, however, be administered for sufficient time to achieve success. A minimum of five days treatment is standard.
Bush Foot is a secondary bacterial infection caused by some form of defect or penetration of the hoof wall, sole, or heel. Bacteria enters the heel through erosion of the sole, heel, or toe, a sand crack on the wall of the hoof, or through a separation of the wall and sole along the white line.
Cracked walls, ulcers at the coronary band, erosions of the sole and separation of the horn at the white line may all be seen. It may be necessary to expose lesions under overgrown horn by paring using a hoof knife. The absence of lesions in the other feet should be confirmed.
Depending on the condition, treatment may involve antibiotics but lame pigs should always be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to improve chances of recovery. The use of analgesics (pain killers) such as aspirin in powdered form may be a useful adjunct therapy.
In the early stages, there will be little other signs than a reluctance of the sow to put weight on the foot. She will act as if she is touching something hot. Over a few days, swelling may appear above the horn and the foot will be noticeably hot and painful.
Depending on the condition, treatment may involve antibiotics but lame pigs should always be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to improve chances of recovery. The use of analgesics (pain killers) such as aspirin in powdered form may be a useful adjunct therapy.
Treatment of baby piglets with a fungicidal wash is appropriate where necessary, but care should be taken not to chill them. Antibiotic medication may be appropriate to prevent secondary Greasy Pig Disease.Concurrent treatment for ectoparasites may also be indicated.
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Bush Foot is a secondary bacterial infection caused by some form of defect or penetration of the hoof wall, sole, or heel. Bacteria enters the heel through erosion of the sole, heel, or toe, a sand crack on the wall of the hoof, or through a separation of the wall and sole along the white line. When the abscesses erupt at the coronet band, the condition is called Bush Foot.