Description: A necrotising inflammation with underrunning of part or all of the soft horn of the heel and sole which does not extend to the abaxial edge of the sole of the hoof (Egerton and Roberts, 1971). In cases of low-virulent (intermediate) footrot, the underrunning may originated from a break in the axial wall of the digit, rather than the heel. Score 3 lesions are further divisible into Scores 3a, 3b, and 3c according to the extent of underrunning.
Figure 1. Score 3a. Lesion with separation of the sole at the heel which forms a pocket, and an accumulation of necrotic material. The underrun lesion is accompanied by inflammation of the interdigital skin. Photo: Andrew McPherson
Figure 2. Score 3a. Healing lesion with underrunning of the sole at the heel. The underrun lesion is accompanied by inflammation of the interdigital skin. Photo: Andrew McPherson
Figure 3. Score 3c. Active lesion with underrunning extending halfway along the sole. Note that flies are attracted to the fetid odour of the lesion, which can lead to flystrike. Photo: Michael Rosser
Go back to: Introduction to foot scores
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