Ask The Biologist

Foot Fetish

Foot Fetish

By Bob Humphrey

Hoof abnormalities might mean your deer survived EHD.

QUESTION: I hunted in a group this year, and three of the deer we harvested had hoof pads that where coming off as a single piece. We could see new pads under old ones. I’ve hunted 30 years and never saw this before. All the deer looked healthy. What causes this? — Sherry W.

ANSWER: The symptoms you describe sound suspiciously like hemorrhagic disease (HD). Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue are blood-borne infections of cervids (deer and elk), bighorn sheep and pronghorn caused by either of two closely related viruses transmitted into the bloodstream by tiny biting flies. As disease features are largely indistinguishable, both are generally lumped together as (HD).

The disease occurs in three forms. The peracute form typically kills rapidly — within one to three days, depending on virulence (strength) of the strain. Deer may exhibit swelling of the eyes, head, lungs neck and tongue. Deer infected by the acute or classic form may live several days longer but will eventually succumb and may exhibit peracute symptoms, more extensive hemorrhaging of internal organs and necrosis of the mouth and digestive system.

Where outbreaks are more common, deer often survive and develop immunity to the chronic form, but will show evidence of infection in the way of growth interruptions on the hooves, and occasionally complete sloughing or peeling of hoof walls, as you described. In fact, according to the Mississippi State University Deer Lab, hoof sloughing in fall harvested animals is evidence that an animal survived the disease. As a side note, the meat is safe to consume.

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