Procedures and surgeries of the teat

Traumatic injuries to the teat or the mammary gland are frequent in dairy cattle. These lesions, consequences for the most part of accidents, greatly interfere with milk production and, in certain cases, can compromise the production of the quarter or of the whole gland. Because of the genetic and economic value of high-producing animals, producers need expertise from well-trained veterinarians. Teat surgery can be frustrating, and good knowledge of the anatomy, udder development, milk ejection mechanism, and healing process is essential. Major improvements have been made in the field of teat surgery since the 1980s, such as determination of the ultimate suturing technique; new imaging technologies, such as radiography, ultrasound, and theloscopy, have helped in the diagnosis of the different afflictions of the teat. These diagnostic tools are important to determine the best possible interventions and to obtain better results with therapeutic approaches. Compared with blind intervention, such as the use of the conventional teat knife, theloscopy allows for a lot more precision in fibrous tissue removal. A completely different approach has been used more recently to manage streak canal fibrosis with rethinking of certain procedures and treatments. Use of dilator rods (Dr Naylor teat dilators, Morris, NY; or Colombus, Jorgen Krusse Marslev, Denmark) and of their components is being questioned. Complete rest (no milking) when the papillary canal is affected, depending on the gland’s infection status, is an approach that merits attention. Absence of milking for 3 to 5 days should not be a major inconvenience to a healthy gland. Silicone rods and natural fatty acid rods, both of which favor better healing of the papillary canal lesions, should replace fiber dilator rods.