Teat lesions

Question 1

What causes teat warts?

Answer 1

Bovine papilloma virus

Question 2

What age animals are seen to have teat warts (Bovine papilloma virus)?

Answer 2

Young animals

Question 3

What may be involved with transmission of teat warts?

Answer 3

Flies

Question 4

What are the consequences of teat warts (bovine papilloma virus)?

Answer 4

Harbouring bacteria - predisposition to mastitis
Pain - milking/sucking more difficult
Poor liner attachment

Question 5

What is the treatment for teat warts (bovine papilloma virus)?

Answer 5

Improve fly control
Most self-resolve
Can remove with surgery, ligation or cryotherapy
(Autogenous vaccine if severe cases)

Question 6

Pseudocow pox causes teat lesions that are circular or horseshoe shaped scabs. What virus causes this? Are they painful?

Answer 6

Parapox virus

Not painful

Question 7

Pseudocow pox is an infectious teat lesion. How can they be treated/prevented?

Answer 7

Good milking hygiene - teat dipping

Question 8

Bovine herpes mammalitis is caused by which virus? Is it painful?

Answer 8

BHV-2

Yes very painful!

Question 9

Bovine herpes mammalitis is rare and healing is slow, although cows develop lifelong immunity. How can it be controlled if in the herd?

Answer 9

Milk affected cows last

Acyclovir use?

Question 10

What causes cowpox? How is it transmitted?

Answer 10

Orthopox virus

Transmitted by cats

Question 11

What teat lesion is caused by damage to teat end plus secondary infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum?

Answer 11

Blackspot

Question 12

How is Blackspot treated/prevented?

Answer 12

Teat cannula
Topical antibiotics
Check milking machine for causes of teat damage

Question 13

Udder or teat impetigo is usually caused by which pathogen? How is it controlled?

Answer 13

Staph aureus

Teat dipping, antiseptic creams

Question 14

Skin photosensitisation and sunburn affects what type of skin?

Answer 14

Non-pigmented

Question 15

How is skin photosensitisation and sunburn treated?

Answer 15

Supportive care - NSAIDs
Move indoors
Suncream

Question 16

What can cause chapped teats?

Answer 16

Worn teat liners
Poor teat skin care
Calf suckling

Question 17

Chapped teats are painful. How are they treated?

Answer 17

Emollients

Teat cannulas

Question 18

What causes hyperkeratosis? Why is it an issue?

Answer 18

Teat damage - over milking, poor preparation, faulty l liners etc
Increases risk of mastitis

Question 19

What are teat peas?

Answer 19

Pedunculated granuloma attached to teat canal wall

Blocks milk flow

Question 20

When removing teat peas, what should always be given before? How can they be removed?

Answer 20

Prophylactic Abs to prevent mastitis

Remove surgically or with Hudson’s spiral/mosquito forceps

Question 21

Teat stenosis is usually a sequelae to trauma. How are they treated?

Answer 21

Insert small teat knife into teat and rotate
Sedation + antibiotics

(May recur)

Question 22

Cows with blind teats may or may not have milk in the teat canal. How are blind teats treated?

Answer 22

If milk in canal, treat as for teat peas

If no milk in canal, cannot open so leave

Question 23

When examining a cow with a teat lesion/injury, what sedative should they be given?

Answer 23

Xylazine

Can cast cow if needed

Question 24

How should superficial and deeper teat cuts be treated? Should you give antibiotics?

Answer 24

Superficial - use tape or glue (do not suture)
Deep - suture with local anaesthesia, suture or staple/glue
Always give prophylactic Abs!
Teat cannula to allow milk to drain

Question 25

What local anaesthesia blocks can be used for teat surgery?

Answer 25

Ring block around teat base

Teat lumen block

Question 26

Supernumerary teats are common and often inherited. How are they removed?

Answer 26

Without anaesthetic using scissors if <2 months

In older animals, use local and emasculators or surgical removal