In practical conditions, dairy cows very often have various lesions of the skin and teats. The causes of certain lesions of the udder are microtrauma during grazing, especially in wooded areas, bites of stinging insects, chapping of the udder, poor sanitary and hygienic care of its skin, etc.

If the owners do not take timely treatment measures, it leads to the development of boils in cows (udder furunculosis in cows), purulent mastitis, phlegmon, abscess (purulent mastitis), which often lead to a complete loss of milk productivity of cows and forced culling of them for meat.

Cracks in the skin of the nipples. Cracks are formed due to impaired elasticity of the skin as a result of poor udder care and improper milking (pinch milking). During the grazing period, if owners of private household plots, peasant farms and milkmaids, after washing the udder, do not wipe it well and do not lubricate it with any fat or petroleum jelly, cracks often become widespread. Chapped, dry skin loses its elasticity; as the udder fills with milk, it is unable to stretch and cracks, especially if there is dirt on it.

Clinical signs. Cracks in a cow's udder are often longitudinal and less often transverse, 1-10 mm long. They have thickened, hard edges, their surface is often covered with a crust of dried exudate. When the crack becomes contaminated, suppuration occurs, and on this basis mastitis and sometimes udder phlegmon may occur. Milking with cracks in the skin of the nipples is accompanied by pain in the cow, as a result of which milk production is inhibited.

The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture of the disease.

Treatment. Animal owners and service personnel, when fresh wounds and cracks are detected, are always able to wash the udder with warm water and laundry soap and treat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1:1000), 3% hydrogen peroxide, rivanol at a dilution of 1:1000 - 1:2000 ,1-2% solution of baking soda. After this, the affected areas of the udder are lubricated with 5% tincture of iodine or 1% alcohol solution of pyoctanin. If a cow develops long-term non-healing wounds and ulcers due to cracking of the skin and subsequent penetration of pyogenic microflora, then the owners should resort to treating the udder with antibacterial ointment agents.

Udder furunculosis- purulent inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hairy bags of the skin. It is observed mainly during the lactation period in cows with hairy udders in violation of zoohygienic rules for keeping cows (lack of bedding, contaminated bedding, etc.). The causative agent of furunculosis is mainly white and yellow staphylococci and streptococci.

Udder warts– benign tumor of the skin and mucous membranes. The origin of warts is viral. The virus enters the skin of the udder through microscopic wounds and abrasions. Feeders, drinking bowls, equipment and hands of the owner of private household plots, peasant farms and milkmaids can become contaminated with this virus and if sanitary rules for milking are not followed, they are the source of this disease.

Udder bruise. Udder bruises in cows most often occur when they are kept crowded, as well as during the grazing period when grazing in wooded areas. The cause of the bruise can be a fall of a cow, a blow from a hoof or horn, or overcoming obstacles.

Pathogenesis. As a result of bruising of the udder tissue, the integrity of the blood and lymphatic vessels is disrupted, resulting in hemorrhage in the skin and loose tissue of the udder. When the udder is bruised, aseptic inflammation most often occurs, which is accompanied by an increase in local temperature, swelling, redness of the skin and severe pain. If hematomas form in the parenchyma of the udder, the animal's owners detect an admixture of blood in the milk.

Clinical picture. The clinical picture of an udder injury depends on the severity of the damage to the udder. When examining the damaged udder, we find abrasions and bruises at the site of the injury. The bruised lobe of the udder is dense and painful on palpation. Milking a cow is accompanied by pain, the milk is stained with blood. On the first day of a bruise, cow owners note blood in the milk that is scarlet or dark cherry in color; later it becomes dark, acquiring a dark brown or chocolate color. If there are bruises in the area of ​​the nipple, milk is milked from the udder with difficulty, and if the nipple is severely bruised and swollen, milk from the affected part of the udder is not milked at all.

The diagnosis of udder bruise is made based on the clinical picture.

Forecast. For mild to moderate bruises with the formation of a small hematoma, the prognosis is favorable. In case of severe bruises accompanied by crushing of udder tissue and large hemolymphatic extravasations - doubtful or unfavorable.

Treatment. Treatment for a cow's udder bruise depends on the degree of damage. Treatment begins with the provision of rest, during the grazing period the cow is transferred to stall housing, succulent feed is limited in the feeding ration, and the sick cow is transferred to hand milking. In the first hours after detection of a bruise, the injured area of ​​the udder must be lubricated with a 5% iodine solution. Subsequently, for 1-2 days, cold is applied to the affected area of ​​the udder in the form of a bubble with ice, snow; in the summer, a good effect is obtained from applying clay to which table vinegar is added. After 2 days, we begin to use heat (thermal baths, Sollux, UHF), heparin ointment, and light massage.

If there are blood clots in the nipple canal that prevent milk from being milked, inject 50 ml of a solution containing 0.5 g of baking soda into the affected lobe of the udder through a milk catheter, then lightly massage the nipple and release it after 20-30 minutes.

Due to the great soreness of the udder, novocaine blockade of the udder is used according to B.A. Bashkirov or D.D. Logvinov.

If there are extensive hematomas, they are surgically opened, blood clots are removed, blood vessels are ligated, and the hematoma cavity is treated like an open wound, using antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs.

Udder pox. Udder pox is most often seen in young cows. Unlike other udder diseases, smallpox is characterized by the shape and color of the affected areas, as well as the pattern of the process.

Clinical signs. The disease begins in a cow with the appearance of round spots the size of a millet grain, surrounded by a bright red rim. After some time, nodules appear at the site of the spot, which then turn into characteristic blisters filled with serous or light yellow liquid. In the center of such a vesicle there is a noticeable depression - a smallpox navel. After a few days, the contents of the vesicle turn into pus (pustule). Subsequently, the pustules open, and in their place there remain shallow ulcers that undergo epithelialization and scarring. This pathological process in a cow lasts 2-3 weeks, but sometimes drags on for 2-3 months.

Treatment. When treating smallpox lesions, disinfectant and emollient ointments are used (streptocidal, syntomycin, zinc, xeroform, etc.), which prevent the development of purulent and putrefactive processes in the udder. During treatment, owners of private household plots and peasant farms must carefully ensure that the cow's diseased udder is dry and clean.

Foot and mouth disease of the udder. Foot and mouth disease is a dangerous, acute, highly contagious disease of many animal species, characterized by fever, salivation, aphthous-erosive lesions of the mucous membrane of the tongue and oral cavity, skin of the nasal pelvis, limbs, mammary glands, myocarditis and myositis with high mortality in young animals in the first days of life. Humans can also become infected with foot and mouth disease from animals.

Clinical picture. In lactating cows, aphthae of various sizes are observed on the skin of the udder and nipples. After opening the afts, erosions remain in their place. The resulting inflammatory process tends to spread to the tip of the nipple and the mucous membrane of the nipple canal. These inflammatory processes in the udder lead to disruption of the function of the affected quarter of the udder, which is manifested by a change in the composition of the milk, the milk becomes mucous, acquires an acidic reaction and becomes bitter in taste. As a result of blockage of the teat canal with fibrous, casein plugs and scabs, leading to difficulty in milk release, cows develop mastitis. In lactating cows, milk productivity is reduced by 50-75%. With timely and correctly initiated treatment, milk production is restored slowly in cows, sometimes it takes several months.

Udder dermatitis. Udder dermatitis in cows can develop after hypothermia, chapping of a wet udder, rubbing sharp ointments into the udder and as a result of dirty keeping of cows. Often, dermatitis is a sign of a metabolic disorder or occurs simultaneously with damage to other areas of the skin as a result of feed intoxication (potato, bard, clover and alfalfa, buckwheat exanthema).

Clinical signs of udder dermatitis in cows vary from more or less intense redness and soreness to deep purulent skin lesions. In the latter case, thickening of the skin appears mainly between the right and left halves of the udder. Cracks form on the thickened surface of the skin, through which purulent exudate is released, which dries on the surface of the udder into crusts or mixes with dust and turns into a soiled, dirty, ichorous mass that sticks together the hair on the udder. Simultaneously with ulceration, many purulent lesions of various sizes, ranging in size from a pinhead to a hazelnut, form on the skin of the udder. In the case when the process captures the teats, the cow becomes very worried when milking. The quality of milk obtained from a cow, as a rule, does not change. With extensive lesions of the udder, a significant number of leukocytes are found in the milk. With purulent dermatitis, there is an enlargement of the supraglavicular lymph nodes on one or both sides.

The prognosis is favorable. Treatment.

Treatment begins with eliminating the cause of dermatitis; in case of feed rashes, the feeding diet is changed. The cow is given rest and milk is carefully milked from the udder. The affected areas are washed thoroughly with warm water and soap or soda solution. Sticky hairs are cut off. Dried skin is covered with astringent neutral or weakly disinfecting ointments (boric vaseline, ichthyol-glycerin equally, zinc ointment)

For weeping dermatitis, apply powdering of eczematous areas with xeroform, tannin, zinc oxide and talc in equal parts, cauterization with a lapis stick or lotion with a solution of silver nitrate 0.5 - 1%.

For purulent dermatitis, it is necessary to keep the udder clean. To do this, the diseased udder is washed with hydrogen peroxide, solutions of potassium permanganate, rivanol, followed by the use of disinfectant ointments. In case of severe pain, novocaine powder is added to the ointments. It is necessary to change the litter frequently.

Milk retention. Some farms experience periodic milk retention in their cows during milking. Especially often, milk retention is observed in cows after the cow’s owners remove the calf that was previously raised under the cow, when changing milkmaids, changing the environment, rough handling of the cow, or gross violation of the technology of milking the animal.

Milk retention during milking in a cow is noted in the presence of inflammatory processes in the reproductive system (endometritis, chronic endometritis, ovarian cysts) or increased reactivity of the cow’s body during the arousal stage of the sexual cycle.

Milk retention depends on dysfunction of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, when the cow does not release the hormone oxytocin from excessive stimuli (fear, pain, noise).

Milk retention is caused by excitation of the central nervous system, which reflexively causes contraction of the muscle fibers of the milk ducts, resulting in the closure of their lumen or relaxation of the contractile system of the mammary gland. As a result, milk is not squeezed out of the alveoli and milk ducts of the animal’s udder.

Clinical picture. Owners of a cow with good filling or even when the udder is full, during milking, note the absence of milk in the milk tank. In some cows, milk retention in the cow is manifested by a sharp decrease in milk yield. The retention of milk in a cow is characterized by the periodicity of these phenomena, with the complete absence of any symptoms of damage to the cow’s mammary gland and other organs.

Great troubles for cow owners are caused by such functional disorders of the udder as agalactia (lack of milk) and hypogalactia (low milk production).

Agalactia and hypogalactia is a violation of lactation in cows as a result of their improper feeding, maintenance, as well as as a result of diseases and congenital defects of the mammary gland or other organs of the animal.

Impaired lactation in cows leads to a decrease in milk production. Agalactia and hypogalactia should be considered as symptoms of certain disorders in the cow’s body. With all the variety of causes of hypogalactia, it is customary to consider seven forms of this abnormality:

1. Congenital agalactia and hypogalactia.
2. Senile agalactia and hypogalactia.
3. Alimentary (feed) agalactia and hypogalactia.
4. Artificially acquired agalactia and hypogalactia.
5. Climatic hypogalactia.
6. Exploitative agalactia and hypogalactia.
7. Symptomatic agalactia and hypogalactia.

Milk incontinence. Milk incontinence in a cow occurs as a result of relaxation and paralysis of the muscles (sphincter) of the teat canal of the udder, scar growths and neoplasms in the teat canal, and udder contusion. In some cows, incontinence appears periodically and is associated with the stage of excitement, external temperature (cold or, conversely, very hot days).

Symptoms Milk incontinence is expressed by spontaneous release of milk when milking is delayed. With this udder disorder, milk flows out of the cow's udder in drops or streams constantly, and especially in the process of preparing the cow for milking (washing and wiping the udder). During test milking, milk is released from the tank in a wide stream, without encountering resistance from the sphincter.

The prognosis for milk incontinence due to decreased sphincter tone is favorable; for paralysis, scars and neoplasms - doubtful.

Treatment. The cow needs to massage the top of the teats after each milking for 5-10 minutes, apply a 1-2% solution of iodine ointment or a colloidal cap. To do this, after each milking, the top of the dry teat must be immersed in elastic collodion for 1 second, as a result of which the resulting film will prevent milk from flowing out of the cow’s udder.

To excite the paralyzed sphincter and mechanically reduce the lumen of the milk canal, a veil is also used: under the skin around the nipple canal, a thin ligature moistened with a 5% iodine solution is passed under the skin around the nipple canal with several stitches, which, like a purse-string suture, is used to slightly tighten the nipple. Before fixing the node, a thick probe or milk catheter is inserted into the lumen of the canal. After 9-10 days the ligature is removed. Mechanical irritation occurring under the influence of a ligature promotes the regeneration of muscle elements and increases sphincter tone; in addition, the delicate scars formed in the suture area mechanically reduce the lumen of the canal. To eliminate milk incontinence, sometimes 1-2 knotted sutures are applied to narrow the nipple canal, which cover only ¼ of the circumference of the nipple apex.

For scars and neoplasms, plastic surgery is performed (excised and stitched, with a mammary catheter strengthened in the channel). If the sphincter is strongly relaxed, it is necessary to put a rubber ring on the tip of the nipple, which, in order to avoid necrosis, should not overtighten the nipple.

Narrowing of the nipple canal (tightness). Tightness is a defect consisting in the narrowness of the teat canal, as a result of which during milking one has to make great efforts and spend a lot of time milking milk from the udder. During milking of such cows, frequent injury to the mucous membrane of the tank occurs, followed by the development of an inflammatory process or the growth of granulomas at the site of the tears.

Narrowing of the nipple canal can occur with congenital or acquired hypertrophy of the sphincter of the nipple canal, muscle degeneration as a result of inflammatory processes, scar contractions after injuries, as well as as a result of neoplasms. Stiffness in cows is almost always associated with overdevelopment of the rosette formed by folds of the mucous membrane of the teat canal due to thickening of the epithelial cover by layering of keratinized cells (hyperkeratosis). In slow-milking cows, the epithelial layer of the mucous membrane of the teat canal is 3-4 times thicker than in normally milking cows.

In normally milking cows, the diameter of the teat canal ranges from 2.5 to 4 mm, in slow-milking cows it is no more than 2 mm.

Clinical signs. During milking, a thin stream of milk is released from the udder. When palpating the nipple, the cow's owners determine that the nipple becomes hard, the walls of the nipple are thickened, there is a thickening in the sphincter area or a scar at the top of the nipple. The site of fusion or narrowing of the mammary cistern can be easily determined by catheterization with a mammary catheter; it can be more accurately determined by performing an X-ray examination.

Treatment. Treatment of tightness in cows consists of weakening the tone of the teat sphincter or stretching the resulting scar. It is possible to restore normal patency, both with narrowing and with fusion of the milk tank, only surgically. When the sphincter is hypertrophied, a quick and long-lasting effect is obtained by forcibly expanding the canal with bougies from the A.A. set. Osetrova. In order to prevent necrosis of the mucous membrane or paralysis of the sphincter, the last bougie is left for no more than 30 minutes.

When the narrowing of the nipple canal is caused by scar contraction, it is necessary to strive to ensure that the expansion of the canal during bougienage occurs primarily due to the scar, and not the healthy part of the sphincter. To do this, after inserting a thin bougie or milk catheter into the canal with the thumbs of both hands, massaging the nipple, stretch the scar.

In exceptional cases (and only in case of scar contraction), they resort to surgery, which consists of excision of scar tissue, which can be done through the nipple canal using the method of I.L. Yakimchuk or through a nipple incision.

According to the method of I.L. Yakimchuk, excision of scar tissue is performed using a cap-shaped knife proposed by the author. After preparing the surgical field and anesthesia, a sterilized cap-shaped knife is inserted closed into the scar tissue. The movable knife tube is then pulled out, exposing the blade opening. After this, moving the knife to the right and left, bring the movable tube of the knife closer to its stationary part. This technique completely removes scar tissue. When using a cap-shaped knife, in order to avoid excessive damage to the mucous membrane of the milk cistern and significant bleeding, excision of scar tissue is carried out very carefully, under the control of fingers through the wall of the nipple.

After removing the specified tissue, in order to prevent adhesive inflammation and provide rest to the injured tissues, a polyvinyl tube is inserted into the nipple for 10-15 days, and in such a way that its upper end is located above the area with the excised tissue.

In the postoperative period, antibiotics are administered through a tube in a 0.25-0.5% novocaine solution for 6-7 days.

Congenital absence of the nipple canal. In first-calf heifers after birth, the absence of the teat canal or its skin opening is sometimes discovered.

Clinical picture. Upon examination, the owners note that a quarter of the udder is enlarged and full of milk in the first heifer. Upon careful examination, the tip of the corresponding nipple in place of the nipple canal does not have an opening. By palpation, a complete absence of the sphincter of the nipple is revealed, or the latter is most often felt in the form of thickening of the muscles. Milk is not released due to the filling of the hole with thin skin, which sometimes protrudes at the top of the nipple when it is squeezed by hand (as when milking). If milk flow is not ensured in a timely manner, a quarter of the udder with an abnormal teat undergoes reverse development and gradually becomes empty until the next lactation period after the new calving. In the future, such a cow may experience complete atrophy of the quarter.

Prevention of udder diseases. To prevent udder diseases, owners of private household plots, peasant farms and milkmaids must strictly observe the existing zoohygienic rules when keeping cows, which should boil down to the following:

1. Ensure complete, balanced feeding of cows with good quality feed.
2. Keep the floors and bedding in the barnyard clean and dry.
3. Before milking each cow, wash your hands with soap and dry them with a clean towel; Before milking, wash the udder of each cow with a separate portion of warm water, wipe dry with a clean towel and lubricate it, milk the cows in a timely and correct manner, and massage the udder.
4. When performing mechanical milking, follow the rules of mechanical milking (preparing the udder and teats, timely removal of teat cups from the teats, keeping milking machines clean and in good working order, etc.).
5. Avoid wounds, abrasions, cracks, chemical and thermal burns of the udder in cows.
6. The introduction of dry cows should be carried out gradually.
7. When performing catheterization of the udder and blowing air into the udder, observe the rules of asepsis and antiseptics.
8. Cows with mastitis should be milked last in a separate container. Do not milk milk from the affected lobe onto the floor. The portion of the udder affected by mastitis should be milked after milk has been milked from the healthy portions and destroyed.

Low milk yield in cows (causes and remedies)

One of the serious problems in dairy farming is mammary gland diseases. In addition to mastitis, the following nipple diseases occur in clinical practice: narrowing (fusion) of the milk cistern and narrowing (fusion) of the nipple canal, wounds and fistulas of the nipples, as well as neoplasms and milk stones. With various lesions of the udder excretory system in cows, milk yield decreases, the use of machine milking becomes impossible, and manual milking becomes difficult.

Culling of cows due to teat diseases and their complications averages 0.16% of the population. They are often registered as “agalactia”, “hypogalactia” or “milk retention” and are not diagnosed in a timely manner.

Narrowing or fusion of the nipple canal can be congenital or acquired. With a congenital defect, the sphincter muscle circle is too small or the muscles are hypertrophied and do not allow the teat canal to expand during milking. Acquired narrowing is a consequence of damage and inflammatory processes due to violations of the rules of machine milking (high vacuum, poor-quality teat rubber of milking machines, their overexposure on the teats) against the background of unsatisfactory housing of cows, insufficient care of the udder before and after milking, hypovitaminosis A or uneven development quarters of the udder.

Narrowing of the teat cistern is more often observed in young cows during the 2nd-3rd lactation, that is, when the udder develops most sharply and milk yield increases, which causes low milk yield, decreased productivity and the development of mastitis.

When the nipple cistern narrows or becomes infected due to the inflammatory process, the bacterial contamination of the lobes increases. Acute stages of inflammation are characterized by proliferation of the nipple wall, and chronic stages are characterized by proliferation of connective tissue. The diagnosis of narrowing of the teat cistern is usually made after calving, and is preceded by minor changes in the udder wall (nodules, compactions) or its secretion (altered, bloody milk, decreased milk yield), indicating the presence of an inflammatory reaction or the hereditary nature of the defect. Radiography gives a more complete picture of scar formations. The narrowing of the cistern is accompanied by hardening of the upper sphincter of the nipple, and the narrowing of the nipple canal is accompanied by compaction or fusion of the external sphincter.

To expand the nipple canal in the initial stage, you can use dry seaweed sticks (kelp), which swell greatly in a liquid medium. Such a stick is inserted into the teat canal 1-2 hours before milking; repeated insertions, if necessary, are possible 4-5 days after drying the sticks in an oven.

In advanced cases (considerable duration of scar contractions), these actions do not produce a significant effect, so they resort to an operative method - excision of connective scar tissue with a cap-shaped or lancet-shaped special surgical instrument.

There are closed and open methods for eliminating a defect. In the first option, the narrowing of the cistern is eliminated by cutting the scar crosswise with a hidden knife for the nipple canal, followed by inserting into the nipple polyvinyl chloride tubes or polyethylene catheters of the papinula-cannula type, used in a number of countries.

Tubes or cannulas do not irritate the tissue, reliably cover injured areas of the mucous membrane and ensure the outflow of milk. Thin-walled polyvinyl chloride tubes with an outer diameter of 3 mm are used, which should be located a few millimeters above the junction. The part of the tube protruding 2 cm is used to suture the top of the nipple to the skin from the front and back.

With the open method, circular infiltration anesthesia of the nipple at its base is used with a 1% solution of novocaine. A milk catheter is inserted into the nipple slightly above the narrowing site. An incision is made on the lateral side of the nipple, opposite the narrowing site that can be felt through the wall of the nipple and the inserted catheter. Using eye tweezers and blunt curved scissors, scar tissue is excised. The first floor of a continuous mattress suture is applied to the mucous membrane and submucosal layer from bottom to top, and then the skin is sewn from top to bottom with the same end of the silk. Both ends of one thread are brought together and fixed.

Antibiotics are injected into the tank using a 0.5% solution of novocaine (10 ml), and the tip of the nipple is covered with an antiseptic emulsion. Before the stitches are removed, once a day the milk is removed using a catheter, and blood and casein clots are removed with a light massage with the fingers. The sutures are removed on days 7-10, and regular milking begins on days 13-15.
A favorable outcome is observed in 80% of cases, and an unfavorable outcome is observed in cases of exacerbation of chronic mastitis and non-compliance with conditions of detention.
Mastitis is a contraindication.

The narrowing of the nipple canal is quickly eliminated with a lancet-shaped or button-shaped knife. A lancet-shaped knife makes a cross-shaped incision into the wall of the nipple canal, and a button-shaped knife makes one or two sagittal incisions into the wall and canal of the nipple. In the postoperative period, milking is done every four hours, the tip of the teat is treated with synthomycin emulsion. Elimination of tightness using a hidden knife is achieved in 91% of cases of surgical intervention and is most effective when the narrowing is a thin septum 1-2 mm wide with a large lumen of the nipple. The most convenient to use is a button-shaped hidden knife, since this not only makes milking easier, but also increases the milking speed from 0.46 l/min to 0.86 l/min. The increase in daily milk yield is 0.7 liters. This nipple surgery is almost bloodless because the excised connective tissue does not contain large blood vessels. The integrity of the teat skin is not compromised, and compliance with sanitary milking rules prevents possible inflammation.

Among open traumatic injuries, the most common are deep and perforating wounds, as well as their complications - fistulas, requiring surgical treatment. In cases of deep perforating wounds after surgical debridement and joining the edges, healing occurs by primary intention in 82% of cases. Complications include delayed epithelization of the wound gap around the nipple canal and suture dehiscence due to circulatory disorders in the wound wall. The cause of divergence of the wound edges may be insufficient excision of injured or scar tissue.

The formation of milk stones or small grains of sand is associated with malnutrition due to disorders of the general metabolism in the body and the deposition of phosphorus or calcium salts when casein crumbs are calcified. In the first portions of milk, grains of sand are found, which create stiffness. Palpation of the nipple reveals moving round or oval-shaped seals. The intracisternal introduction of a 3% solution of baking soda ensures their partial removal. In other cases, a catheter is used to soften milk clots.

Prevention of diseases of the udder excretory system is associated with the prevention of mastitis and udder trauma, with the struggle to obtain high-quality milk in hygienic conditions. If changes are detected in the mucous membrane of the nipple or in the milk (pain during milking, hardening in the wall of the nipple, bloody or watery milk), indicating the possibility of narrowing of the teat cistern, the cause and nature of the changes should be determined and timely treatment of the animal should begin. If slow milk production is a consequence of defects in the structure of the udder (altered shape of the udder and teats, the presence of additional teats and glands), then such animals are gradually released.

S.M. Zakharova - veterinarian-gynecologist of the station

Etiology. Narrowing and overgrowth of the nipple cistern usually occurs with chronic inflammation of its mucous membrane. The reasons for the narrowing of the cistern may be scars formed at the site of tears in the mucous membrane of the cistern produced during rough milking, as well as neoplasms.

Clinical signs. When the nipple cistern narrows, its cavity decreases along its entire length, the nipple becomes hard, and its walls are thickened. With local narrowing, palpation reveals dense formations the size of a pea, sometimes large. Most often, a narrowing is found at the base of the nipple, where the circular fold of the mucous membrane of the cistern is located. Both with complete and with limited narrowing of the teat cistern, milking is significantly difficult. When the teat cistern is completely closed, the affected portion of the udder is enlarged, soft, and painless. There is an increased density of the entire nipple. When individual sections of the nipple cistern become infected, an accumulation of milk is detected above the site of infection.

The site of infection or narrowing can be easily determined by catheterization of the mammary cistern, or more precisely by x-ray examination. To do this, 20-30 ml of a 20% aqueous solution of potassium iodide, potassium bromide or sodium is injected into the nipple through a milk catheter. These solutions provide good shade for 10-15 minutes.

After an X-ray examination, the examined lobe should be carefully milked to remove the contrast agent, as it causes irritation of the mucous membrane. As a contrast agent, you can also use a 30% aqueous solution of sergosine, iodinol, perabrodil, diodone. These substances are more acceptable because they do not cause irritation to the mucous membrane of the tank.

Forecast. With local narrowing of the nipple cistern, the prognosis is favorable; with complete narrowing, the prognosis is doubtful. It is possible to restore normal patency both in case of narrowing and infection of the milk tank only surgically.

Treatment. I. L. Yakimchuk (1960) recommends excising scar tissue with the cap-shaped knife he proposed. After preparing the surgical field and anesthesia, a sterilized cap-shaped knife is inserted closed until the scar tissue is present, then the movable tube of the knife is moved back, exposing the tip of the blade. After this, with several turns to the right and left, the movable tube of the knife is brought closer to its stationary part. In this way, the tissue inside the nipple is captured and cut. Similar manipulations are repeated until the scar tissue is completely excised. When using a cap-shaped knife, in order to avoid excessive trauma to the mucous membrane of the milk cistern and significant bleeding, scar tissue is excised with care, under finger control, carried out through the wall of the nipple.

To prevent adhesive inflammation and provide rest to injured tissues, a polyvinyl tube is inserted into the nipple for 10-15 days so that its upper end is located above the area with the excised tissue. In the postoperative period, antibiotics are administered through a tube in a 0.25-0.5% solution of novocaine for 6-7 days.

Removal of scar tissue through the opened cavity of the nipple cistern is more reliable. In this case, visual control is possible, which allows for more thorough tissue removal. The nipple is opened with a longitudinal incision along its craniolateral surface. Before opening, using a mammary catheter, the location of narrowing or fusion of the nipple cistern is accurately determined. In the future, the inserted catheter is used as a guide. The incision is planned so that its length covers the area of ​​fusion. When the annular fold heals, the incision, if necessary, continues into the parenchyma. The area of ​​infection is excised, sparing the mucous membrane of the nipple cistern as much as possible. To ensure excision of scar tissue, the wall of the nipple opposite the incision is brought to the surgical wound. Bleeding vessels are ligated with thin catgut. All blood clots are removed from the nipple cistern, as they can further interfere with the outflow of milk. Next, the nipple cavity is washed with an antibiotic solution and the wounds are sutured (see “Wounds of the udder nipples”).

After suturing the surgical wound, a polyvinyl chloride tube is inserted into the nipple, which is left in the nipple until the wound heals. The sutures and tube are usually removed between 10 and 14 days.

In cases of complete occlusion or narrowing of the mammary cistern, surgical intervention is usually ineffective.

FISTULA OF THE MILK TANK

Etiology. A fistula of the mammary cistern occurs as a consequence of various injuries and the subsequent development of purulent-necrotic processes. Fistula of the mammary cistern can also be congenital.

Clinical signs. Characteristic of a milk cistern fistula is the presence of a small hole in the wall of the nipple through which milk is squeezed out. There is dense scar tissue around this hole.

Forecast. After surgical treatment, the animal often recovers, therefore, the prognosis is favorable.

Treatment. After preparing the surgical field and anesthesia, the scar tissue around the fistula opening is excised. Scar tissue should be removed completely if possible to promote healing. After the bleeding has stopped, the wound is irrigated with antibiotics, stitches and an adhesive bandage are applied to it. In dry cows, the surgical wound heals better.

It is most difficult to eliminate fistulas in lactating cows. In these cases, it is necessary not only to excise the scar tissue and bring the edges together, but also to ensure the free flow of milk from the teat cistern, which is carried out using one of the above methods (see “Wounds of the udder nipples”). After complete healing of the surgical wound (on the 10-12th day), the sutures are removed and the cows are transferred to normal milking.

Narrowing of the nipple canal

Etiology. Narrowing of the nipple canal is possible as a result of hypertrophy of the sphincter of the nipple canal, scars from injuries to the tip of the nipple and inflammatory processes accompanied by replacement of the sphincter muscle of the nipple with connective tissue. Functional disorders of the sphincter of the teat canal (spasm) are often observed due to violations of the feeding regimen, housing, etc. The most common cause of tightness is hypertrophy of the sphincter of the teat canal, which occurs mainly in first-calf heifers as a congenital defect.

Clinical signs. The main clinical sign of narrowing of the nipple canal is tightness - difficulty milking milk from the nipple tank.

Diagnosis. Tightness is determined during milk delivery or during catheterization of the nipple canal.

Forecast. When the nipple canal is narrowed, the prognosis is favorable, and only in cases of deep organic changes in the tissues of the nipple canal is it questionable.

Treatment. Depending on the cause of the tightness, one or another method of eliminating it is chosen. So, for tightness associated with the congenital narrowness of the nipple canal, sphincter hypertrophy and inflammatory infiltration, soda baths and kelp sticks are first used. Conservative treatment of tightness is also carried out in case of functional disorders - spasms of the sphincter of the nipple. In all cases, when the cause of tightness is organic changes in the tissues of the nipple canal, an operative method to eliminate the defect is necessary.

Positive results can only be achieved if repeated narrowing of the sphincter of the nipple canal is prevented after surgery.

To eliminate stiffness, a set of bougies made of non-oxidizing metal is proposed. The bougie is a well-polished cylindrical rod with a head. The diameters of the rods are from 1 to 5 mm. Each subsequent bougie is 0.5 mm thicker than the previous one. The length of the tool with a head is from 2.5 to 4.2 cm. Bougies up to 2.5 mm thick are smooth rods with a smoothly sharpened end. For bougies with a thickness of 3 to 5 mm, the free end for 1 - 1.5 cm is ground into a cone, ending with a smoothly ground tip 2 mm thick. The cone-shaped end of the instrument ensures easy insertion into the lumen of the nipple canal.

The head of the bougie is made 2 mm thicker than the rod, it has holes for inserting a thread into it, which makes it easier to fix the bougie in the hand and remove it from the nipple canal.

Method of sequential bougienage according to A. A. Osetrov. After a diagnosis of tightness is made, a sterilized bougie equal to the diameter of the canal is inserted into the nipple canal and left for 2-3 minutes. Then a bougie is inserted 0.5 mm larger than the first and kept for the same amount of time, etc. If the diameter of the nipple canal is 1.5 mm, then in the first session it is successively expanded to 3-3.5 mm, if the diameter is 2.5 mm - up to 4-4.5 mm and with a diameter of 3 mm - up to 4.5-5 mm. The penultimate bougie is left in the lumen of the nipple canal for 5 minutes, and the last one for 20-30 minutes.

Intervals of at least 3 days are made between sessions of sequential bougienage. Since after bougienage the nipple tissue tends to partially contract, the next session begins again with measuring the diameter of the nipple canal. After this, they proceed to its sequential expansion in such a way that the thickness of the subsequent bougie does not exceed the diameter of the lumen of the nipple canal by more than 1-2 mm.

Repeated bougie sessions are carried out until a bougie with a diameter of 3-4 mm can be freely inserted into the lumen of the teat canal, i.e., the diameter of the teat canal of a normally milking cow.

Failure to follow the sequence in bougienage, when they try to expand the nipple canal by introducing bougies that are significantly larger than the diameter of the nipple canal, leads to undesirable phenomena. With such manipulations, milking is initially facilitated, but, as a rule, then pronounced inflammation of the tip of the nipple and stiffness occur, as before the operation.

The sequential bougienage technique, although time-consuming, provides a long-lasting therapeutic effect. Currently, most often, when eliminating tightness, the sphincter of the nipple canal is incised with a special double-edged blunt-pointed lancet, a hidden or button-shaped lancet-shaped knife (Fig. 22). The lancet is suitable for any slow-milking cow; it is easy to make from a regular scalpel. After preparing the surgical field, infiltration or conduction anesthesia is performed. With the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, grasp the operated nipple at the apex and, by pressing the fingers towards the base of the udder, bring the sphincter of the nipple canal as close as possible to the site of surgery. After this, a cross-shaped incision is made in the sphincter of the nipple canal with a lancet. The lancet should not be advanced into the depth of the nipple canal by more than 15 mm, since this depth also ensures the correct incision of the sphincter of the nipple canal. Otherwise, a complete incision of the sphincter is possible.

After an incision in the sphincter of the nipple, complete milking is performed. Subsequently, for 3 days, it is recommended to carry out milking every 2-3 hours. Frequent milking has two goals: to exclude the possibility of infection and to eliminate the fusion of the sphincter incisions of the nipple canal. Three days after the operation, the cows are transferred to normal milking.

Instead of frequent milking, after a cross-shaped incision of the sphincter, a polyvinyl or polyethylene tube can be inserted into the lumen of the nipple canal (see “Wounds of the udder nipples”) or a pin-shaped cannula made of soft plastic. On the 4-5th day, the tube or cannula is removed and the cow is transferred to normal milking. The use of tubes or keg-shaped cannulas prevents clogging of the nipple canal and allows you to avoid frequent milking.

After the operation, the normal process of epithelization of the wound occurs. The epithelium is completely restored within 5-7 days.

Surgical treatment of stiffness according to I. A. Podmogin (1982). This author proposed a knife of his own design (Fig. 23), which makes it easy to insert it into the nipple canal and cut the latter to a depth of no more than 5 mm. At the same time, when removing the knife, an ointment with a strong anti-inflammatory effect is introduced into the nipple canal and the nipple cistern: prednisolone, tetracycline, etc. These actions are achieved by the fact that the cutting oval part of the knife protrudes 2.5 mm, a tube of ointment is screwed onto the handle of the knife, and a through channel in the handle and knife allows you to introduce ointment into the nipple canal during surgery.

The operation is performed on a standing animal after milking. It is done so quickly and is accompanied by such a slight pain reaction that you can do without anesthesia.

After the operation, milking is not carried out, and before the next milking, after 12 hours, only the first streams are milked manually. After this, the animal can be milked using a milking machine. For three days after milking, only the tip of the nipple is lubricated with antiseptic ointment.

CLOSURE OF THE NIPPLATE CANAL

Etiology. Complete obstruction of the nipple canal may be caused by the proliferation of connective tissue after mechanical damage to the tip of the nipple or the development of neoplasms on it. In first-calf heifers, a congenital absence of the teat canal or closure of its skin opening is sometimes found.

Clinical I admit! Nipple patency is clinically determined. The corresponding lobe of the gland is usually soft and painless. In cases where there is a nipple canal and its opening is covered with skin, when pressure is applied to the nipple, its tip protrudes.

Forecast. When the nipple canal is closed, the prognosis is questionable.

Treatment. The patency of the nipple canal is restored surgically. When the opening of the nipple canal is covered with skin, carefully burn it above the nipple canal or cut off this area of ​​the outer covering. Subsequently, the wound is lubricated with antiseptic ointment.

When the nipple canal becomes closed, an artificial opening is created. To do this, P. S. Dyachenko (1957) recommends, after preparing the surgical field and anesthesia, to sequentially insert a catheter for sheep along the nipple canal, then a catheter for cows and a nipple dilator. After such manipulation, the nipple canal becomes a stab wound. To maintain the patency of the nipple, a silk turunda (silk No. 8-10), moistened with liquid Vishnevsky ointment with the addition of sodium citrate, is inserted into its canal. The turunda is left for 48-62 hours, then careful milking is carried out. V. A. Maly, A. I. Krivoshey (1959) recommend introducing catgut turunda instead of silk and changing it every 12 hours.

Some authors believe that, after the opening of the nipple canal has been made, a cap-shaped knife should be inserted into its lumen and excess scar tissue should be excised. Subsequently, it is recommended to carry out milking every 2-3 hours. Instead of frequent milking, a cannula from a polyvinyl chloride tube can be inserted into the artificially formed canal for 10-16 days.

UDDER CONTRIBUTION

Etiology. Udder bruises occur as a result of blows from the horns, hooves of other animals, falling on hard protruding objects and other possible mechanical damage.

Pathogenesis. When udder tissue is bruised, macro- and microscopic disturbances in the integrity of blood and lymphatic vessels occur, resulting in hemorrhage in the skin and loose tissue. Contusion of udder tissue is often accompanied by aseptic inflammation with an increase in local temperature, redness of the skin, swelling and pain. When a hematoma forms in the udder parenchyma, an admixture of blood is detected in the milk.

Clinical signs. The nature of the clinical picture depends on the strength of mechanical damage. At the site of the bruise on the skin of the udder there are abrasions, bruises, and with strong blows - hematomas and crushed tissue. When the nipple is bruised, it is difficult to milk out milk, and when the nipple is severely bruised and swollen, the milk does not come out at all.

Diagnosis. The bruise is diagnosed without difficulty based on clinical signs.

Forecast. For mild and moderate bruises with the formation of a small hematoma, the prognosis is favorable; for crushed tissue and extensive hemolymphatic extravasation, the prognosis is doubtful or unfavorable.

Treatment. Treatment measures depend on clinical signs. It is advisable to carry out a novocaine blockade of the udder according to B. A. Bashkirov or D. D. Logvinov. In acute cases, cold is applied to injured (but not crushed) udder tissue during the first day. On the 2-3rd day and on subsequent days, thermal procedures (sollux, UHF, thermal baths) and light massage are used. Extensive hematomas are opened on the 5-6th day and treated like a wound, using antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs.

ABSCESS OF THE UDDER

An abscess, or abscess (abscess), is a spatially limited purulent inflammation of loose tissue or parenchyma of the udder, characterized by a predominance of the suppurative process over the necrotic one and accompanied by the formation of an interstitial cavity filled with purulent exudate.

Etiology. An abscess occurs as a result of penetration of pyogenic microorganisms into damaged tissue, most often staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, cryptococci, actinomycetes, necrosis bacteria, etc. In addition, an abscess can form during acute purulent skin lesions (furunculosis, carbunculosis, purulent dermatitis), such as complication of purulent-catarrhal, fibrinous mastitis, udder phlegmon. Abscesses can be single or multiple, small or large. They are located in both superficial and deep areas of the udder. According to the course, abscesses are acute and chronic.

The impact of abscesses on subsequent productivity depends on their size. Large and multiple abscesses cause significant destruction of the udder parenchyma with the subsequent formation of extensive compactions. The affected quarter of the udder decreases in volume and becomes hard. Milk productivity is not fully restored.

Clinical signs. With superficial single abscesses there is a slight increase in body temperature. On the surface of the skin of the udder, the abscess appears in the form of a painful, hot elevation. With multiple abscesses, the udder increases in volume; upon palpation, painful, hot, compacted, and sometimes fluctuating swellings are felt.

With multiple abscesses in the acute period, there is a significant increase in body temperature, along with this, appetite decreases, the general condition of the animal worsens, and productivity decreases. In chronic cases, swelling of the skin and loose tissue is observed, and a limited, raised swelling of doughy consistency appears.

Diagnosis. Abscesses localized superficially are diagnosed without difficulty; when they are deeply localized, a test puncture is used.

Forecast. For superficially located abscesses, the prognosis is favorable; for deep abscesses, the prognosis is cautious; complications are possible.

Treatment. Superficially mature abscesses are opened, purulent exudate is removed, the resulting cavity is irrigated with an antiseptic solution or tamponed with Vishnevsky's liniment. For deep abscesses, purulent exudate is aspirated with a syringe, the abscess cavity is washed with an antiseptic solution and treated like a wound.

PHLEGMON OF THE UDDER

Udder phlegmon is an acute purulent diffuse inflammation of loose connective tissue.

Etiology. Cellulitis occurs as a result of mechanical damage to tissues and infection with pyogenic microbes: staphylococci, streptococci, mixed microflora or anaerobes and putrefactive microflora. The possibility of developing udder phlegmon due to the introduction (penetration) of pathogenic microorganisms into the tissue by hematogenous or lymphogenous route cannot be ruled out. Depending on the nature and course of the pathological process, the depth of localization, and the properties of the exudate, subcutaneous, subfascial purulent and putrefactive-gas anaerobic phlegmon are distinguished.

Pathogenesis. The development of phlegmon is facilitated by the high virulence of microbes that penetrate tissues 5> and the reduced resistance of the body. The process of phlegmon formation develops so quickly that a demarcation zone does not have time to create. Initially, serous infiltration of interstitial tissue appears and quickly spreads in the lesion, soon turning into purulent infiltration. A quarter of the udder is involved in the process.

Clinical signs. A sick cow has a significant increase in local body temperature and general temperature, a depressed state, diffuse, less often limited, painful swelling of the udder tissue, and impaired lactation.

With subcutaneous serous phlegmon, a painful swelling appears in the area of ​​the affected lobe of the udder, which initially has a doughy consistency, then becomes dense. The skin in the affected area is tense and separated from healthy skin by an edematous ridge. If rational treatment is not given in a timely manner, the general condition noticeably worsens, the body temperature rises, a focus of softening appears at the site of diffuse swelling, and abscesses form, which can spontaneously open. In this case, there is a copious outflow of purulent exudate.

With subfascial phlegmon, inflammatory edema spreads slowly and is not diffuse. At the beginning of the development of phlegmon, a limited swelling of a dense consistency occurs, subsequently softening occurs in the lesion and the formation of abscesses, after opening of which purulent exudate is observed. Complications accompanied by tissue necrosis are possible.

With purulent-putrefactive phlegmon, the inflammatory process quickly spreads to the loose fiber and parenchyma of the udder. By palpation, a crepitating swelling is identified. With this lesion, the tissues quickly undergo putrefactive-necrotic decay with the formation of gas bubbles. The general condition of the sick animal is depressed. On the surface of the udder, vessels protrude in the form of red, tense cords leading to the supra-udder lymph nodes. The superior lymph nodes are enlarged and painful. There is stiffness of movement or lameness of the limb adjacent to the affected half of the udder. Lactation is sharply reduced; when milking, a small amount of cloudy, gray exudate mixed with flakes is released.

Forecast. With acute superficial serous phlegmon, the prognosis is favorable, with deep phlegmon - cautious, with putrefactive-gas anaerobic phlegmon - unfavorable.

Treatment. Regardless of the nature of the phlegmonous process, a 0.5% solution of novocaine with antibiotics is administered intravenously or intra-arterially, and a novocaine blockade of the udder is used. At the onset of the disease, irradiation with ultraviolet rays, UHF, is used. When a focus of softening appears, it is opened. In case of putrefactive gas phlegmon, wide and deep incisions of the affected tissues are made as early as possible.

FURUNCULOSIS OF THE UDDER

The disease is a purulent inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles, caused by the introduction of staphylococci. Unsanitary conditions of keeping animals, poor sanitary treatment of the udder before and after milking, abundant accumulation of slurry in stalls, maceration of the skin when carelessly wiping the udder, as well as vitamin deficiency, lack of exercise, etc. predispose to the occurrence of udder furunculosis or to some extent contribute to its occurrence. .

Clinical signs. Boils ranging in size from a pea to a hazelnut are localized in the skin, most often in the interudder groove at the base of the rear nipples. A yellowish-colored lesion (head) forms in the center of the abscess. The skin in the affected area becomes lumpy and painful. Ripe boils spontaneously open, purulent exudate is released through the resulting fistula, which infects adjacent areas of the skin and thereby creates the possibility of the appearance of new boils. The skin defect after opening the boils heals with the formation of a scar.

Treatment. The affected areas of the skin are washed with a warm solution of sodium bicarbonate or green soap. Festering boils are smeared with an alcohol solution of iodine, opened and treated with a 4-5% warm solution of potassium permanganate or sprinkled with streptocide. It is also recommended to use ichthyolglycerin and penicillin ointments. Among the means of general therapy, it is useful to use autohemotherapy, intramuscular and intravenous injections of solutions of novocaine with penicillin, irradiation with ultraviolet rays, and intravenous infusions of calcium chloride solution. It is useful to include stillage and other foods rich in vitamins A and D in the diet of sick animals, or use their preparations.

UDDER DERMATITIS

Depending on the nature and degree of damage to the skin of the udder, its pathomorphological changes and clinical manifestations, traumatic, chemical and toxidermic dermatitis are distinguished.

Etiology. Traumatic dermatitis is characterized by inflammation of the underlying skin. It occurs as a result of all kinds of mechanical damage to the udder (abrasions, maceration, squeezing), etc. Chemical dermatitis develops as a result of rubbing various medicinal substances for medicinal purposes or contact with the skin of strong chemicals (acids, alkalis, quicklime, fertilizers, etc.) etc.). Toxic dermatitis is observed when animals are fed excessive amounts of potato stillage, grass containing St. John's wort, as well as poisoning with monin and royal horns.

Factors such as hypothermia of the udder, unsanitary conditions for keeping animals, and the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms into the skin contribute to the occurrence and development of dermatitis.

Clinical signs. With traumatic dermatitis, redness and soreness of the skin and swelling of the subcutaneous tissue are noted. Subsequently, ulcers appear on the skin, covered with purulent exudate. With drug-induced dermatitis, the skin thickens, loses elasticity, and becomes painful. With chronic dermatitis, peeling of the udder skin, hair loss or abnormal hair growth are observed. In case of chemical dermatitis caused by the action of alkalis and acids, skin hyperemia, swelling and soreness are noted at the onset of the disease. In the future, there may be necrosis of areas of the skin and the formation of a scab. With toxic dermatitis, a polymorphic rash, painful swelling of the skin is observed, and blisters form on its surface. When the blisters spontaneously open, weeping areas are formed and itching appears. Toxic dermatitis can be complicated by skin necrosis. In addition, among the general phenomena, a decrease in appetite, an increase in body temperature, conjunctivitis, salivation, and a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract are sometimes observed.

Forecast. In case of traumatic aseptic inflammation of the skin of the udder, the prognosis is favorable, in case of purulent dermatitis - cautious, in case of skin lesions resulting from chemical and toxic effects - doubtful.

Treatment. Eliminate the causes that caused the disease. On the affected areas of the skin, the hair is cut short, the skin is washed with a warm solution of sodium bicarbonate, abrasions, abrasions and superficial wounds are lubricated with an alcohol solution of iodine or pyoctanin. For purulent dermatitis, antiseptic substances are used in the form of powders, solutions, ointments, and irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

For chemical skin lesions, neutralizing solutions are used. In case of toxic dermatitis, the causes of the disease are first eliminated. The affected areas of the skin are lubricated with tar liniment or ichthyolglycerin ointment, etc.

FROSTBOST OF THE NIPPLES AND UDDER

Based on the depth and severity of tissue damage, frostbite is classified into first, second and third degrees.

Etiology. Frostbite of the nipples and udder occurs when lactating cows are transported in open cars, driven for a long time in frosty, windy weather, or when cows lie on the snow.

Clinical signs. They depend on the degree of frostbite and are characterized by a sharp reflex spasm of blood vessels, as a result of which the skin turns pale and loses sensitivity. After the cessation of the cold, congestive hyperemia and painful swelling of the skin appear; on its surface there are signs of infiltration and exudation - the first degree of frostbite. The second degree of frostbite is accompanied by the formation of blisters filled with serous-hemorrhagic exudate, which indicates deep damage to the blood vessels. The third degree of frostbite is characterized by tissue hardening and loss of sensitivity (symptoms of wet gangrene).

Forecast. With the first degree of frostbite, the prognosis is favorable, with the second - cautious, with the third - doubtful.

Treatment. In fresh cases of frostbite, warm the animal and restore blood circulation in the affected areas of the udder and teats. To do this, place the animal in a warm room, lightly massage the udder and nipples along the lymphatic vessels. When tissues are icing, massage is not used. After restoration of blood circulation, the affected tissues of the udder and nipples are lubricated with iodglycerin, an alcohol solution of tannin, or streptomycin, ichthyol ointments and Vishnevsky’s liniment are used. For frostbite of the nipples, the use of warming baths, UHF, and diathermy is indicated.

In case of wet gangrene, dead tissue is removed surgically, after which an aseptic bandage is applied. The milk is removed using a milk catheter.

NEW FORMATIONS OF THE UDDER

In young cattle and dairy cows, massive lesions of the skin of the teats, udder and other areas are sometimes observed due to papillomatosis, a disease of viral origin. Its occurrence is facilitated by various long-term irritations of the skin of the nipples.

Clinical signs. The presence of papillomas on the skin of the udder and teats makes it difficult for cows to milk, causes a painful reaction, which leads to impaired milk flow.

Papillomas can be flat, but more often they have a mushroom shape protruding above the surface of the skin. Their sizes range from pea to walnut. There may be single or multiple, affecting a large surface of the nipples. Sometimes they merge with each other and form a mass of lumpy folds, reminiscent of cauliflower or having the appearance of mushroom-shaped growths. Sometimes they can crack and delaminate.

Forecast. For single papillomas, the prognosis is favorable; for multiple lesions, the prognosis is cautious.

Treatment. In some cases, papillomas disappear on their own without any treatment, however, a number of treatment methods have been proposed. Single, large, wide-pedunculated papillomas are recommended to be removed surgically (preferably with Cooper scissors). It is also recommended to bandage the legs of the papillomas, cauterize the papillomas with lapis, phenol, nitric and acetic acids, and lubricate them with salicylic collodion. The most rational way to treat papillomas of the udder and nipples is tissue therapy according to Filatov, hemonovocaine blockade, short and intravenous penicillin-novocaine blockade.

NEW TUMORS OF THE MAMRY GLANDS

Mammary tumors are common in dogs (females) in the second half of life. The disease is characterized by hormonal imbalance, as well as a genetic predisposition of dog breeds to mammary tumors.

Clinical signs. Tumors develop in the mammary glands. They are dense in consistency, painful, and in places with extensive tumors ulcerations are observed.

Forecast. It depends on the histological type and size of the tumor, and the age of the animal.

Treatment. Surgery is the main treatment method for breast tumors. O. K. Suhovolsky (1995) proposed, depending on the stage of the disease, to perform in dogs: sectoral resection, radical mastectomy, extended mastectomy with removal of regional lymph nodes. Surgical treatment must be combined with chemotherapy to prevent distant metastases.

Test questions. 1. What surgical diseases of the mammary gland are most often diagnosed in cows after calving? 2. What causes cracked nipple skin? 3. What is the diagram of the nipple canal and teat cistern? 4. What are the dimensions of the nipple canal? 5. What methods are used to treat narrowing of the nipple canal? 6. What is the differential diagnosis of udder abscess and phlegmon?

Etiology. The causes of narrowing of the nipple canal are hypertrophy of the sphincter of the nipple canal, scars after injuries to the tip of the nipple and inflammatory processes accompanied by replacement of the sphincter muscle of the nipple with connective tissue. Often, such functional disorders of the sphincter of the teat canal as spasm arise as a result of violations of the feeding regime, housing, milking, etc. The most common cause of tightness is hypertrophy of the sphincter of the teat canal, which occurs mainly in first-calf heifers as a congenital defect.

Symptoms The main sign of narrowing of the nipple canal is tightness - difficulty milking milk from the nipple tank.

Diagnostics. Tightness is established during milk delivery or during catheterization of the nipple canal.

Forecast. When the nipple canal is narrowed, the prognosis is favorable, and only in cases of deep organic changes in the tissues of the nipple canal is it questionable.

Treatment. Depending on the cause of the tightness, a method for eliminating it is chosen. So, for tightness associated with the congenital narrowness of the nipple canal, sphincter hypertrophy and inflammatory infiltration, soda baths and luminaria sticks are first used. Conservative treatment is also carried out for functional disorders - spasms of the sphincter of the nipple. In all cases of organic changes in the tissues of the nipple canal, surgical intervention is necessary.

Positive results in eliminating tightness can be achieved only if re-narrowing of the sphincter of the nipple canal is prevented after its surgical expansion.

To eliminate stiffness, a set of bougies made of non-oxidizing metal is proposed. The bougie is a well-polished cylindrical rod with a head. The diameters of the rods are from 1 to 5 mm. Each subsequent bougie is 0.5 mm thicker than the previous one.

The method of sequential bougie is that a sterilized bougie equal to its diameter is introduced into the nipple poop and left for 2-3 minutes, then a bougie 0.5 mm larger than the first is introduced and kept for the same amount of time, etc. If the diameter of the nipple channel is 1.5 mm, then it is successively expanded in the first session to 3-3.5 mm; if the diameter is 2.5 mm, then expand to 4-4.5 mm and with a diameter of 3 mm - 4.5-5 mm. The penultimate bougie is left in the lumen of the nipple for 5 minutes, and the last one for 20-30 minutes.

Intervals of at least 3 days are made between sessions of sequential bougienage. Due to the fact that after bougienage the nipple tissue is prone to partial contraction, the next bougienage session begins again with measuring the diameter of the nipple canal, after which they proceed to its sequential expansion in such a way that the thickness of the next bougie does not exceed the diameter of the lumen of the nipple canal by 1-2 mm .

Repeated bougie sessions are performed until it is possible to freely insert a bougie with a diameter of 3-3.5-4 mm into the lumen of the teat canal, i.e., a bougie whose diameter is equal to the diameter of the teat canal of a normally milking cow.

Failure to comply with the sequence in bougienage, when they try to expand the nipple canal by introducing bougies that significantly exceed the diameter of the nipple canal, leads to undesirable phenomena. With such manipulations, milking is initially facilitated, but after this, as a rule, pronounced inflammation of the tip of the nipple and signs of tightness occur, as before its elimination.

The method of sequential bougienage, although associated with a lot of time, provides a long-lasting therapeutic effect.

Currently, most often, when eliminating tightness, an incision is made in the sphincter of the nipple canal using a special double-edged blunt lancet, a hidden or button-shaped lancet-shaped knife. The lancet is suitable for any slow-milking cow; it can be easily made from a regular scalpel.

After preparing the surgical field, infiltration or conduction anesthesia is performed. With the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, grab the operated nipple at the apex and, pressing your fingers towards the base of the udder, bring the sphincter of the nipple canal closer to the site of surgery if possible. After this, a cross-shaped incision is made in the sphincter of the nipple canal with a lancet. The lancet should not be advanced into the depth of the nipple canal by more than 15 mm, since this also ensures the correct incision of the sphincter of the nipple canal. Failure to do this may result in a complete cut of the nipple sphincter. After making an incision in the sphincter of the teat, this quarter is milked out completely. In the next 3 days, frequent milking is recommended (every 2-3 hours), with two goals: to prevent infection and to eliminate the fusion of the sphincter incisions of the nipple canal. 3 days after the operation, the cows are transferred to normal milking.

Instead of frequent milking, after a cross-shaped incision of the sphincter, a polyvinyl or polyethylene tube (see Wounds of the udder nipples) or a pin-shaped cannula made of soft plastic can be inserted into the lumen of the nipple canal. On the 4-5th day, the tube or cannula is removed, and the cow is transferred to normal milking mode. The use of tubes or pin-shaped cannulas prevents infection of the nipple canal.

After the operation, the process of epithelization of the wound proceeds normally. The epithelium at the site of the defect is completely restored within 5-7 days.

Igor Nikolaev

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Producing milk is one of the main goals of cattle breeding. Livestock breeders strive to increase milk yield and improve the quality of milk. But sometimes a cow’s productivity decreases or stops milking altogether. The milk production process does not stop without serious reasons. Why do some animals become poor milkers and can this be corrected?

Causes of pathology

Among the first causes of slow milk production in a cow are diseases. The mammary glands are susceptible to external influences, injury, inflammation and infections. All these problems, to one degree or another, affect the quality and quantity of milk.

Narrowing of the nipple canal

To understand the principle of the disease, you should briefly touch upon. It contains glandular tissue, inside of which there are cells that form milk. It flows through ducts that connect into canals.

A narrowing of the canal is said to occur in the following cases:

• excessive enlargement for pathological reasons;
• received wounds to the top of the nipple;
• inflammatory processes when the sphincter is replaced by connective tissue.

Such disturbances in the functioning of the body are caused by poor quality feeding and maintenance. There may be flaws in milking, especially without following the hardware method technique. For example, there was a strong vacuum, bad teat rubber on milking machines and other issues. Adherence to hygiene rules also plays a role.

Slow milking occurs most often with this pathology in cows that have calved for the first time. It can be observed until the third lactation. In a slow-milking cow, the defect is determined by the milk that comes out with great difficulty and in small streams.

In most cases, milkers do not complete the process and leave milk in the udder. As a result, it stagnates and leads to inflammation. For this reason, milk yields are declining.

Nipple canal regrowth

Complete overgrowth of the nipple canal also leads to tightness of the cow. The tip of the nipple could also be injured, foreign tumors and other defects appeared on it. Overgrowth is considered a consequence of pathology:

• congenital, when the sphincter is very small or the accumulation of muscles prevents it from expanding during milking;
• acquired when diseases, inflammation, rough machine milking, hypovitaminosis, and improper development of the udder interfere.

A quarter of the udder with such a teat will be soft, and the cow will not experience discomfort when touched.

The cow has a canal, but there is a lot of skin in front of its opening. When you press on the nipple, the tip then rises noticeably.

Milk stones

Stones appear in the milk passages from the accumulation of phosphorus salts or casein flakes. During milking, the livestock breeder may notice them: there seems to be sand in the milk.

But sometimes the stones are large, they get stuck in the milk passages and enlarge in the cistern itself. At the same time, they connect with each other and turn into peas. The formations are different: dense, soft, elastic.

Fertility in a cow is associated with the following factors:

1. damage to the walls of the milk ducts;
2. metabolic and mineral disorders;
3. The last drops of milk are not milked and settle in the udder.

While squeezing the teats, the cattle owner notices stiffness, the presence of sand and small balls in them. They are easy to feel through the skin.

Treatment of low milk yield in cows should begin when the first symptoms appear. Otherwise, complications can lead to serious inflammatory and infectious diseases:

1. First of all, you can try dry seaweed sticks. They are placed in the teat canal an hour before milking. There they swell and expand the hole. Then the sticks are dried and used again after five days. The method is good in the absence of mastitis, wounds and other pathologies;
2. small stones are squeezed out through the canal, large ones are first crushed with a catheter and massage. Then they come out with the milk. Huge formations will have to be removed by opening the tank. Then the incision is sutured, having first installed a catheter in the canal. You can remove the stones a little by introducing a three percent solution of baking soda into the tank;
3. in difficult situations they resort to surgery. The skin covering the canal is carefully burned or the excess area is simply cut off. The wound must be treated with antiseptics. Sometimes special plastic tubes are inserted into the nipple.

After this, it is left there for a couple of minutes. Then a bougie with a diameter of five millimeters larger is placed into the canal. So in an increasing manner to expand the hole by half. The last bougie is left in it for half an hour. Similar experiments can be repeated every three days.

If the procedure is carried out incorrectly, then at first you can achieve relief from milking, and then aggravate the situation. The tip of the nipple becomes inflamed and tightness returns.

In rare cases, the muscles of the nipple canal are cut with a special knife. The depth of the incision should not exceed one and a half centimeters, otherwise the sphincter can be cut off completely. This and the previous technique should be performed by a practicing veterinarian or surgeon.

After all the manipulations, you need to milk the milk completely. Over the next three days, the cow is milked every four hours. This prevents infection and fusion of the incisions. On average, milk ejection lasts about five minutes with uniform compression and professionalism of the worker.