Clinical signs of foot-and-mouth disease in sheep and goats

A range of clinical signs may indicate the presence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in sheep and goats.

Sheep with FMD tongue lesions. © UK DEFRA.

In sheep and goats, the disease is usually mild with few lesions, however, clinical signs can include:

pyrexia
lameness and oral lesions, which are often mild
foot lesions along the coronary band or interdigital spaces, and lesions on the dental pad, but these may go unrecognised
agalactia in milking sheep and goats
death of young stock without clinical signs.

Severely affected animals can succumb to sudden, severe lameness affecting 1 or more feet.

The mild or sub-clinical expression of the disease in sheep is a significant risk factor for the spread of the disease.

Sheep's dental pad and upper gum with 2-day-old lesion. Lesion margins are sharp.

Sheep's dental pad with 2-day-old lesion.

Sheep's foot with 2-day-old lesions in inter-digital space and along coronary bands. Note blanching and swelling.

Sheep’s foot with 2-day-old coronary band vesicles, one of which has ruptured.

Sheep's foot with 6-day-old lesion on coronary band. Note scab formation and rapid rate of healing.

Sheep’s foot with 10-day-old healed coronary band lesion. Note under-running of horn tissue.

Goat with 2-day-old lesions on tongue and upper and lower lips.

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