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Hairy Heel Wart Treatment and Prevention

Hairy heel wart is another name for digital dermatitis, a painful foot infection. This guide covers recognition and prevention, with care directed by your vet.

What hairy heel wart is

Hairy heel wart is a common name for digital dermatitis, also called strawberry foot or Mortellaro's disease. It affects the skin of the foot, usually behind the claws near the heel. Lesions can appear as a raw, red, strawberry-like patch or a raised wart-like growth with hairs.

The disease is painful. Cows often stand on their toes, avoid putting weight on the back of the foot, walk carefully and may lie down more than usual.

How to recognize it

Look at the back of the foot, from behind the cow, with a light. A foot that is clean and dry is easier to examine. Some farms wash feet in the parlor or use a lift in the trimming chute.

Lesions can change over time. Early ones can be small and flat, active ones are raw and sore to touch, and older ones may look dry and thick. Ask your vet or hoof trimmer to show you what each stage looks like on your own animals.

• Red, raw or strawberry-like lesion near the heel
• Hairy raised wart-like growth
• Pain when touched or washed
• Cow shifting weight, standing on toes
• Reduced intake and milk if the cow is very sore

What care looks like

Care for active lesions should be guided by your veterinarian. This article does not list products, doses or methods. Your vet can explain what is suitable for your herd, how to apply it safely, how often to recheck affected cows and how to follow label directions, including milk and meat withdrawal times.

Cows that do not improve, or that have deep or spreading lesions, need an exam and possibly another diagnosis because other foot problems can look similar.

Prevention steps

Prevention matters more than any individual treatment. The disease thrives where feet stay wet and dirty, so cow environment is the foundation. Scrape alleys often, keep bedding clean and dry and avoid standing water.

• Keep walkways and holding areas clean and dry
• Maintain a routine foot bath or topical program recommended by your vet
• Inspect feet on a regular schedule
• Quarantine and check new cattle
• Clean hoof trimming equipment between cows
• Look at heifer pens and calf housing for hygiene too

Biosecurity and purchased cattle

New animals can introduce the disease. Check feet on arrival, ask the seller about foot health, and keep new cattle apart until they pass inspection. Share these rules with anyone who trims hooves or works on your farm, including relief milkers and visiting professionals.

What to ask your vet and hoof trimmer

Bring your records of lesions and lameness to your next visit and ask for a plan that covers the whole herd, not just the sore cows.

• How many of our cows show active lesions?
• What does our foot bath routine need to change?
• How should we handle fresh cows and heifers?
• Are our floors and alley scraping routines adequate?
• What should we write in the cow's record after each check?

Common mistakes

Treating only the cows that limp, using a worn-out or overloaded foot bath, skipping cleaning of hoof trimming tools and not recording findings are frequent mistakes. Another is trying a different product every month without a plan. Always follow your vet's advice and the label, and keep milk and meat from treated cows out of the food supply for the full withdrawal time.

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• Cow Comfort and Lameness: What the Data Says
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• Teat Condition Scoring: Why It Matters
• Milking-Time Hygiene Mistakes That Hurt Udder Health
• Dry Cow Therapy: Best Practices and Common Errors