Digital dermatitis is an infectious lameness condition that has spread globally in sheep flocks. Its management requires understanding both the welfare implications and the practical approaches to control.
Digital dermatitis causes significant pain in affected sheep. The lesion involves erosion of the skin at the coronary band with exposure of sensitive underlying tissue - the acute phase causes severe pain disproportionate to the relatively small lesion area. Sheep with digital dermatitis show reduced walking, preferential weight bearing on unaffected feet, and reduced grazing distance from the flock. The chronic phase involves persistent lower-grade pain that may not be recognized as lameness by casual observation. The spread of this condition into sheep has been rapid and biosecurity failures in sheep trading have contributed. Unlike footrot, digital dermatitis persists in the environment making eradication difficult once established in a flock.