IJAH - Teat Spider

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 2

Indian J. Anim. Hlth.

(2015), 54(2) : 157 - 158 Short Communication

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF TEAT SPIDER AND


TEAT FISTULA IN A DAIRY COW
L. BHOWMIK , P. K. KHAN, S. BHOWMICK,
R. BOSE, S. ROY, N. J. MAITRA, P. MUKHERJEE1* AND S. K. NANDI2
Ramkrishna Asram Krishi Vighyan Kendra
P.O.- Nimpith Ashram, South 24 Parganas
West Bengal, Pin-743 338
This case report represents a clinical study of 3.5 years of age crossbred Jersey cow presented in cattle
farm of RAKVK, Nimpith with the history of leaking milk from left hind teat, physically diagnosed as
teat spider alongwith teat fistula and thereby it’s successful surgical management.

Key words : Teat spider, Teat fistula, Cow, Surgery


In organized dairy farm, affections of teat from left hind teat in the stage of 1st lactation
and udder of cattle is very much common. 3 days post parturition. The animal was
Early diagnosis and treatment of such otherwise apparently healthy and appetite
problems is very crucial for maintenance was normal. There was one supernumerary
of their health vis-à-vis milk production teat in the right side of the hind quarter.
(Singh, 2014). These affections are mainly Major complication was leaking of milk
supernumerary or extra teats, teat fistula, from a teat sinus of the hind quarter just near
fibrosis of teat canal, teat spider etc. Some the internal sphincter of udder but no passing
anomalies are directly related to teat of milk through teat canal of left teat of hind
sphincter like stenosis of teat or ‘hard quarter. On physical examination, teat was
milker’, enlarged teat orifice or ‘free found soft. An unusual ring like structure
milker’ and ‘blind teat’ Although, incidence was felt near the base of affected teat
of teat spider and teat fistula both are not following a sinus like structure and an
very common in dairy animals, this invagination was also found on exertion of
condition needs to be treated urgently not upward pressure with finger.
only to prevent milk loss but also to keep
the udder health in optimum condition. The The condition may be due to some
present study deals with successful membranous or fibrous tissue blockage in
management of teat spider in a dairy cow. the teat canal. After proper surgical
A crossbred Jersey cow of 3.5 years of age scrubbing and preparation, teat slitter was
was presented in cattle farm of RAKVK, introduced as well as teat bistouries
Nimpith with the history of leaking milk instrument for clearing those membranous
*Corresponding author
1
Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, WBUAFS.
2
Department of Surgery & Radiology, WBUAFS.
158 Indian Journal of Animal Health, December, 2015

or fibrous tissue blockage. After that, drop surgical repair of the teat and udder (Steiner
by drop milk was coming out through the and Rotz, 2003). After 10 days, animal was
teat canal. Left teat fistula was repaired by totally cured showing normal mammary
two row of vertical mattress suture with gland activity and milk ejection. Teat
non-absorbable material after debridement wounds represent the higher acquired teat
under local anesthesia using 2% xylocaine affections (28.16%) while the
hydrochloride around base of teat after supernumerary teat represents the highest
dusting the site with gentamicin solution. congenital teat abnormalities 36.8 % (Singh
Inj. Cefotaxime was used @10mg /kg body et al., 1993). Supernumerary teat frequently
weight intramuscularly twice daily for 5 interferes with milking process and
days along with intra-mammary infusion of objectionable on show animals without
antibiotics. Daily dressing with gentamicin significant effect on milk yield and lactation
solution was done and siphoning the milk length. The clinical success from udder and
every now and then 2 days interval. Suture teat surgery depends mostly upon aseptic
was removed 10 days postoperatively. measures, proper restraint of animal as well
as adequate postoperative care (Arnold,
Teat spider in cattle and buffalo is 1960). Besides, it was observed that the
congenital as well as acquired condition prevalence of udder and teat affections were
(Johnson, 1988 and Singh et al., 1993). The more in November, December, January and
physical examination was corroborated with February, whenever the weather was cold
the findings of Ather et al. (1999) and and rainy and stables were muddy (Nouh
confirmed as teat spider. No pain sensation et al., 2014). In the present study, the case
was found during entire surgical process as was developed in the month of November.
local anaesthetic technique facilitated

REFERENCES
Singh T, 2014. Affections of teat and udder in Johnson L, 1988. Mammary gland. In: Text
dairy Animals. Animal Husbandry book of large animal surgery (Oehme FW
Officers’ Workshop-2014 eds). 2nd Ed, Williams and Wilkins,
Singh J, Singh P and Arnold JP, 1993. The mammary Baltimore, USA, pp 220-227
glands. In: Ruminant Surgery (Tyagi RPS and Arnold JP, 1960. Surgical procedures of the
Singh J, eds). CBS Publishers and Distributors, bovine teat. Iowa State University
New Delhi, India, pp 167-174 Veterinarian, 22(1): 9-17
Steiner A and Von Rotz A, 2003. The most important Nouh SR, Korittum AS, Elkammar MH and
Local Anesthesia in cattle; A Review. Schweiz Barakat WM, 2014. Retrospective study
Arch Tierheilkd, 145(6): 262-271 of the surgical affections of the teat in
Athar M, Muhammad G and Shakoor A, 1999. dairy cows of army farms and their
Acquired contralateral teat spider in a cow successful treatment AJVS, 40(1): 65-7
and its successful treatment. Pakistan Vet
J, 19 (1): 49-50
Article received on 02.08.2015 and accepted for publication on 30.11.1215

You might also like