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.
Also consider...
- Read more about the signs and transmission of FMD.