Foot Rot vs Digital Dermatitis: Two Diseases, Two Approaches

Two Common Hoof Infections Frequently Confused

Foot rot and digital dermatitis are the two most common infectious hoof conditions in housed dairy cattle. They are both associated with wet, contaminated conditions and both respond to footbath programs — but they are different diseases caused by different bacteria, affecting different anatomical locations, and with somewhat different clinical presentations and management priorities.

Foot Rot (Interdigital Necrobacillosis)

What it is: bacterial infection of the interdigital skin (the skin between the two claws of the hoof) and the deeper tissues beneath it.

Causative bacteria: primarily Fusobacterium necrophorum, often in combination with Trueperella pyogenes and other anaerobes.

Clinical signs:

• Sudden onset, acute severe lameness — often one of the most dramatic lameness presentations
• Swelling of the coronary band and above, often extending up the pastern and above the fetlock
• Necrotic (dead, foul-smelling) tissue in the interdigital space
• Bilateral swelling (both claws on the same foot)
• Affected cow shows severe pain and is reluctant to bear weight

Treatment: Foot rot typically responds well to systemic antibiotic therapy. Severe or neglected cases may require topical debridement.

Prevention role of footbath: Footbath programs reduce the bacterial challenge in the interdigital environment and help maintain interdigital skin integrity, reducing the entry point for foot rot bacteria.

Digital Dermatitis (Mortellaro's Disease)

What it is: infectious skin disease of the heel bulbs and the skin immediately above the interdigital space, caused primarily by Treponema bacteria.

Causative bacteria: Treponema species — T. pedis, T. phagedenis, and related anaerobic spirochetes.

Clinical signs:

• Variable lameness — from none to moderate, rarely as acutely severe as foot rot
• Characteristic lesion: initially small red, raw, erosive area on the heel bulb (Stage M1–M2); progresses to larger ulcerated, painful lesion with possible proliferative ("strawberry-like") appearance
• Located on the skin of the heel, not in the interdigital space

Treatment: Topical application to individual lesions (antibiotic spray or topical product) and footbath for herd control.

Prevention: ongoing footbath program is the primary herd-level prevention and control tool for digital dermatitis.

Footbath Products for Both

Anderma Hoof Liquid, Pescande, and Prodin all address both foot rot and digital dermatitis pathogens through their antimicrobial or astringent action in the footbath. Contact AgroLyne to discuss footbath product selection for your hoof disease profile.