My sheep has foot rot. How can I treat its painful foot effectively?

There are medications that can help with the foot rot and arthritis. The foot rot is best treated with good hoof trimming and daily soaks. Below is a link to some great information about foot rot and treatment options. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/410/410-028/410-028.html Arthritis usually requires daily administration of an anti-inflammatory. Unfortunately, we cannot (legally and ethically) advise medication without having an established patient-doctor relationship. It is also dangerous for us to advise medication without examining Dora and fully understanding her condition and medical history. If you suspect arthritis, then I highly recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. While you may highly suspect arthritis, the vet may find something that was not previously detected and the diagnosis and treatment could be completely different than what you suspect. Also, no medication is completely safe and it's possible that Dora could have an adverse reaction to the proposed medications, which could make things much worse than they were before. For these reasons, it's always best to only give medication as directed by your veterinarian. I hope that helps and Dora gets better soon.

You can try warm Epsom salt soaks to relieve swelling. Dissolve 1 tablespoon in 1 cup of warm water. If he will stand in it with the foot submerged, allow it for about 20-30 minutes. If he is wiggling, soak cotton balls with the solution and place on the foot for the recommended length of time. Ideally, he shouldn't get any medication without first speaking with or having him examined by your veterinarian. Systemic antibiotics may be indicated to resolve the infection. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending doses of drugs in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship.

Your quail has developed a touch of pododermatitis which is essentially infection and swelling of the soft parts of the feet. It can occur due to standing in dirty areas, uneven areas or narrow perches. I would check your housing is appropriate and clean and also get some antibiotics to help treat the feet. If you contact a vet they may be able to prescribe you something to pick up, or may request to see the quail first.

If the worms are on his back and not in the feces they are likely maggots or possibly even screwworm. This means that flies have been laying their eggs in his wool possibly because of a wound. Treatment involves removal of the maggots, cleansing of the wound, and medication to control infection and reduce discomfort. I would strongly advise a visit from the veterinarian to determine the extent and type of infestation and to obtain appropriate treatment. In the meanwhile, I would make sure that Sheru is separated from any other sheep.

From these photos, there is definitely some swelling, and possible ulceration. These are definitely signs consistent with bumblefoot, also known as pododermatitis. This is typically caused by increased pressure on the feet and results in bleeding and pain. This can unfortunately spread to the tissues such as muscles and tendons below, so I still recommend having Dobby looked at by a vet, just in case surgery or pain medication is necessary. Because the condition is caused by pressure on the feet, I recommend making sure that Dobby has soft, and very clean bedding as dirty bedding can cause an infection. You should avoid scratchy materials for bedding. Vetericyin ointment is okay for cleaning the area, you can also apply SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to the area after cleaning. Dobby should definitely visit a vet if the condition continues to get worse over the next few days. I hope this helps!

Epsom salt soaks of the affected foot as well as treating any open wounds and keeping the area clean and free of debris may help with minor infections, however if the foot does not recover, worsens, or Baby blue is showing other signs of illness, it is best to seek veterinary care in person so the area can be properly cleaned, drained, and antibiotics or other treatments started.

Yes you can use Betadine solution (not the scrub). You will want to mix it with tap water until it is a light iced tea color. Don't use it straight. Chlorhexidine solution would be better to use in my opinion. Be aware that this is not an easy thing to cure and it will take a long time. I recommend soaking the feet with with either chlorhexidine or betadine, drying the foot and applying Neosporin twice daily. Continue the soaks until the ulcerations are gone, but continue the ointment until completely healed. I suggest bedding on towels and changing it daily. If he is in a wire cage you need to take him out of it immediately. Hope this helps. Best wishes.