Teat Laceration Repair in Cattle

[Bovine teat lesions - Retrospective data evaluation of 116 German Holstein cows]

OBJECTIVE

The management and treatment of teat injuries represent major challenges in modern dairy farming. The injury per se, its treatment and the handling of the cow during the healing process interfere with the principal purpose of the cow, which is the production of saleable milk. The study presents treatment and post-operative management based on the evaluation of a large data set.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data from patients of the Clinic of Ruminants and Swine of the University Leipzig from May 2012 to July 2017 were analysed in a retrospective study. The location and type of injury, initial and post-operative medication, and treatment and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 120 teat injuries in 116 cows were treated. The teat canal was the most common location of injuries (n = 85; 70.8 %), and closed injuries (without an external wound) were the most frequent type (n = 73; 60.8 %). Of all teat canal injuries, 65 (54.2 %) were internal and did not involve the skin. Most of these injuries were treated under theloscopic guidance directly after initial examination irrespective of concomitant disorders, such as thelitis (except severe acute), cysternitis and mastitis. The majority of treated teats (n = 98; 87.4 %) had functional healing and could be milked, 8 (7.2 %) of treated teats were amputated and in the remaining functional healing was achieved after a second surgery. According to an owner survey at least 700 days post-treatment, 23 (21.5 %) of the surgically treated cows and 50 % (n = 2) of the non-surgically treated cows were slaughtered in consequence of complications associated with the treated teat or the corresponding quarter.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Teat injuries are commonly seen in dairy practice. A successful outcome is obtainable when surgical or medical treatment is administered promptly and consequently in addition to an appropriate post-operative management and monitoring.

Comparative evaluation of metallic skin staples or polypropylene sutures for primary closure of teat wounds in sheep

AIMS

To compare stainless steel staples and polypropylene suture material for primary closure of wounds after teat amputation in ewes and to assess progress of healing in the presence or absence of intramammary infection (IMI).

METHODS

Chios-cross ewes, aged 3-5 years were randomly allocated to be infected in one teat with 1,200-1,500 cfu of Mannheimia haemolytica 5 days after parturition (groups A and B; n = 8 in each group) or remain uninfected (groups C and D; n = 4 in each group). On the following 4 days one teat from each ewe was amputated 2.5 cm from the teat end and the wound was closed using skin staples (groups A and C) or polypropylene sutures (groups B and D). Clinical evaluation of wound healing was performed between 1-21 days after surgery. On day 21 tissue sections were collected for tensiometric and histological evaluation.

RESULTS

The mean interval from the start to finish of wound closure was shorter when staples were used than when sutures were used (p < 0.001). Healing scores were lower (improved) for ewes in group A than B between days 1-7 after surgery (p = 0.005), but were similar between days 10-21 (p = 0.43). Healing scores were similar in groups C and D (p = 0.98). The tensile strain at maximum load was higher in tissue from group A than B (p = 0.001) and D (p = 0.004), but all other tensiometric measures were similar between groups. Histologically, collagen density was higher in sections from group A than B (p = 0.05) and D (p = 0.01), and angiogenesis was lower in sections from group A than B (p = 0.03) and D (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Skin staples and polypropylene sutures can be used effectively for primary closure of teat wounds, even in the presence of IMI. Skin staples had the advantage of a reduction in surgical time.

ABBREVIATION

IMI: intramammary infection.