Surgery of the bovine mammary gland in cattle

Question 1

Clinical examination in case of mammary gland affection

Answer 1

1. Visual examination (type and location of the problem)
2. Complete palpation of the gland and the teat, extraction of a few milk from each teat
3. Insertion of a surgical rodin the teat
4. Milk bacterial culture and sensitivity
5. If necessary medical imaging

Pathologic conditions of the teat diagnosed by ultrasonography

Question 2

Clinical examination in case of mammary gland affection

Alterations

Answer 2

• Fibrosis or papillary canal lesions
• Fibrosis or trauma to or near Fürstenburg rosette
• Lesions or fibrosis at the teat’s sinus
• Lesions or fibrosis at the gland’s sinus
• Venous dilation (varicose vein) in the teat of origin of the
vascular ring

Question 3

Preparations to surgical intervention

Answer 3

1. Restraint of the animal 2. Medical immobisation:
   
   • Xylazine hydrochloride t 0.1 mg/kg IV, 0.2 mg/kg IM
   • Butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg) IM 3. Legs and head secure
2. Local anesthesia 2% Lidocain ring block, 22 G 1” →Venous plexus !!!
3. (Lidocain into the teat cistern)

Question 4

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Treatment

Answer 4

• NSAID
• IM AB (penicillin 22.000 IU/kg)
• All wounds are evaluated as
contaminated
• Cold hydrotherapy

Question 5

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Surgical material and wound closure

Answer 5

• Synthetic absorbable suture material (mucosa, submucosa)
• →USP 3-0/4-0
• skin: 2/0
• 3 layers of wound closure

Question 6

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Postoperative care

Answer 6

• Systemic AB min 3 days
• NSAID 48-72 h
• Wound bandage
• hand milking prohibited for 10 days
• No first strip milking
• Post-milking teat dip
• Non-absorbable suture removal 10 days

Question 7

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Milk flow disturbance

Answer 7

???

Question 8

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Traumatic lesions of the streak canal

Answer 8

???

Question 9

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Surgical incision of intracisternal masses

Answer 9

• “Milk stone” – Lactolith – Intracysternal polip
• Hugs extractor - Hugs teat tumor extractor
• Cornell teat curette

Question 10

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Stenosis of the streak canal or the rosette

Answer 10

• Marked narrowing of the teat orifice or streak canal
→milking difficult.
• Usually results from a contusion or wound produving swelling or formation of a blood clot or scab or from mastitis infections
→++ in prelactating heifers
• Diagnosed initially by careful palpation of the affected gland
• Complex teat obstructions or obstructions in valuable animals may require diagnostic imaging such as ultrasonography, contrast
radiography, or theloscopy (endoscopy).
• Eisenhut stenosis knife, cutter

Question 11

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Postop

Answer 11

• silicone teat insert 9 days!
• Bandage
• AB
• Monitoring

Question 12

Preparations to surgical intervention

Management of teat lacerations

Supranumerary teats in calves

Answer 12

• Congenital disorder
• Occurrence: 10-30%
• Surgical correction required, difficulties can be encountered at milking.
• Esthetic reasons for surgical corrections
• The ideal time surgical ablation is between 4 and 6 months of age
o Local anaesthaesia
o sharp scissor, with the section oriented in the cranial-caudal axis