Increased travel and the globalization of food trade bring increased risks for disease and additional responsibilities to be on alert. Painful blisters may form in the mouth or on the muzzle, causing slobbering or drooling. Later, the blisters break, forming raw patches or ulcers. Blisters can also develop on a female animal's teats, causing mastitis in dairy cattle. Blisters on the feet cause lameness.
Affected animals are reluctant or unable to drink, eat or walk.
And they will lose weight quickly. Immunity against one does not protect an animal from other types. There is no way to distinguish between a positive test from vaccine versus exposure to the disease. Animals are infected when they come into contact with animals, humans or materials that have been exposed to the virus. Contaminated feed, feeding utensils, vehicles, clothing or holding facilities may cause illness in susceptible animals.