16 common udder diseases in cows and their treatment

Udder diseases occur in cows as a result of microtraumas and poor hygiene during milking. The main reason is infection, which penetrates the damaged tissue. Diseases are recognized by external changes in the udder. The amount of milk also decreases, it is difficult to express it, and milking becomes painful for the cow. To preserve milk yield and animal health, it is important to start treatment at the first symptoms.

The meaning of the mammary glands

The udder consists of three tissues, each of which performs an important function:

Glandular tissue consists of cavities - alveoli. From them, milk enters wide ducts - cisterns, and then is discharged through channels and holes in the nipples.

Common diseases

Cows most often experience skin damage, inflammation of internal tissues, and problems with expressing milk. Congenital pathologies are less common.

Mastitis (inflammation)

The mammary glands become inflamed as a result of a bacterial infection. Mastitis develops in cows after cuts, bruises, hypothermia and overheating in the sun. The disease affects one or more quarters of the udder.

Symptoms:

• temperature increase;
• edema;
• redness;
• purulent and bloody discharge from the nipples.

Mastitis is treated with antibiotics and external antiseptic ointments.

Milk stones in the udder

Substance disturbances, incomplete emptying of the udder, and inflammation of the canal walls lead to clogging of the nipples with deposits of phosphorus salts and hardened casein flakes.

Cracked nipple skin

The skin cracks due to improper milking of cows and the accumulation of dried milk residues.

Signs:

• cracks along the nipples with hard edges;
• milk is expressed tightly;
• milking hurts.

Treatment:

• wash the udder with laundry soap, rinse with warm water;
• treat cracks with a weak solution of manganese, hydrogen peroxide or a 2% soda solution;
• lubricate the wounds with iodine;
• If suppuration occurs, apply antibacterial ointment.

Purulent cracks without treatment will lead to the development of mastitis and phlegmon.

Injury

Causes of udder bruises:

• accidental impact while grazing in a forest belt;
• fights between cows.

The impact ruptures blood vessels in the internal tissues of the udder, causing swelling, blue discoloration and a lump. In case of severe damage, blood enters the milk. It is difficult to express from a bruised nipple due to a hematoma.

How to treat a cone in a cow:

• treat with iodine;
• apply ice or clay mixed with vinegar for two days;
• on the third day, lubricate with heparin ointment and massage lightly;
• to clean the nipple from dried blood, inject a soda solution through the catheter, massage and express after half an hour.

For painful bruises, a novocaine blockade is placed, the udder is surgically cleaned of hematomas, and antibiotics are administered.

Udder induration

Pathology occurs due to prolonged swelling or after inflammation. The glands gradually become denser, only flakes can be seen in the milk. Induration develops painlessly and has no cure.

foot and mouth disease

The viral disease is transmitted through the saliva of sick animals, clothing, and food.

Signs:

• round yellowish-gray ulcers - aphthae - form on the skin of the udder, on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose;
• the temperature rises to forty degrees and above;
• Milk yield decreases, milk tastes bitter.

The nipples become clogged with fibrous and casein plugs, causing mastitis to develop. There is no cure for foot and mouth disease, so the symptoms of sick cows are only relieved.

Abscess

Inflammation in tissues develops as a result of scratches and cracks becoming infected. The abscess is accompanied by high fever and enlarged lymph nodes. A cavity with pus forms in the wound. The ulcers are opened, cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, and lubricated with iodine and ichthyol ointment. Antibiotics are prescribed against infection. If there are abscesses, you cannot massage, otherwise inflammation through the blood vessels will spread to the entire udder.

Warts (papillomas on the udder)

Benign formations appear on the skin and mucous membranes. Papillomatosis is dangerous because it is transmitted to humans.

Treatment:

• single warts are tightly tied at the base with cow hair from the tail, the growths dry out and fall off;
• If a large area of ​​skin is affected, the cow is given magnesium with food for ten days - 30 grams per day, and external agents are used.

Warts on cows are smeared with liquid nitrogen, lapis pencil, salicylic collodion, and Anti-Wart ointment.

Dermatitis

Symptoms:

• nipples and udder turn red;
• deep ulcers appear;
• a compaction forms between the lobes of the udder, which cracks and festers;
• the skin becomes covered with small and large ulcers.

How to cure milking problems in cows:

• wash the udder with laundry soap or soda solution;
• clean and dried skin is smeared with ichthyol and glycerin, mixed in equal quantities, or with zinc ointment, cauterized with lapis, or compresses are applied with a solution of silver nitrate;
• weeping dermatitis is sprinkled with a mixture of equal parts of xeroform, zinc oxide, tannin and talc;
• When suppuration occurs, washing with hydrogen peroxide and using antibacterial ointments helps.

To relieve pain, novocaine powder is added to the ointment.

Furunculosis

The disease is caused by staphylococci or streptococci. Furunculosis often occurs during lactation.The infection spreads in unsanitary conditions.

Symptoms:

• the appearance of cone-shaped swellings on the udder;
• red inflammations are replaced by white caps of suppuration.

Treatment:

• wipe fresh boils with camphor, salicylic alcohol or iodine;
• spread with ichthyol ointment.

For burst boils, antibiotics are prescribed and a novocaine blockade is placed. Vitamins are added to the diet of cows. The udder is also heated under an ultraviolet lamp.

Swelling after calving

A swollen udder after the birth of a calf is normal in first-calf heifers. The swelling goes away after a few days.

If the swelling does not subside for a long time, and the cow’s udder hurts, begin treatment:

• provide less succulent food and water;
• milked 8 times a day;
• massage the udder from the nipples to the base;
• calcium supplements are administered;
• apply ointment against inflammation and swelling.

In addition to the main treatment, washing with a decoction of juniper or birch buds is used.

Smallpox

Sores appear on the udder of young cows. Smallpox manifests itself with clear symptoms:

• a yellow spot with a red rim forms on the skin;
• the speck is inflated into a vial of liquid;
• pus forms inside;
• the blister bursts and an ulcer remains;
• the wounds become crusty and scarred.

From the appearance of spots to the formation of scars, it takes from three weeks to three months. Smallpox is treated with external preparations: syntomycin, zinc, streptocide or xeroform ointment. During treatment, carefully monitor the cleanliness of the udder.

Milk incontinence

Causes:

• paralysis of the udder muscles;
• scar in the nipple;
• stress;
• cold, heat.

Milk flows spontaneously when the cow stands quietly and during cleaning before milking.

Treatment for stress incontinence:

• nipples are massaged after milking;
• dipped into collodion, which dries and forms a protective film.

To stimulate paralyzed sphincters, the following measures should be taken:

• the skin around the nipple is stitched with medical thread moistened with a 5% iodine solution;
• a milk catheter is inserted into the canal;
• tighten the thread;
• after 10 days the threads are removed.

The function of a healed nipple is restored using plastic surgery.

Milk retention

Muscle contraction and vasoconstriction as a result of stress lead to partial or complete blockage of the discharge channels in the nipples.

Treatment of detention:

• massage the udder before milking;
• take a break for massage during milking;
• eliminate irritating factors;
• for long-term detention without primary diseases, bromide salts are used.

Lactation disorders are characterized by a sharp reduction in milk yield and frequency.

Narrowing of the nipple canal (tightness)

Milk is poorly milked due to congenital pathology, injury or disease, as a result of which the nipple becomes overgrown with scar tissue. The normal diameter of the outlet channel is 2.5-4 millimeters. When stiff, it tapers to two millimeters or less. The nipple becomes hard and a scar covers the top. To squeeze out a thin stream, you have to apply force. This kind of milking is harmful to the cow: under pressure, the mucous membrane is torn, and inflammation occurs.

Patency is restored only by surgical intervention.

Congenital absence of the nipple canal

Pathology is detected during the first lactation. There is no exit channel or hole in the nipple at all. When the milk is squeezed out, a thin skin puffs up at the end. A quarter of the udder gradually atrophies if it is not emptied.You can make a hole yourself: pierce the skin stretched under the pressure of milk with a sterile needle, burn it with a hot knitting needle or cut it with scissors.

To prevent the hole from becoming overgrown, the cow is often milked, a catheter is inserted into the nipple, and lubricated with Vaseline between milkings. The canal is pierced under sterile conditions with a surgical instrument - a trocar.

Prevention of udder diseases

How to prevent the spread and recurrence of diseases:

• milk with three fingers, before and after milking, wash and wipe the udder dry, lubricate with fat or cream;
• milk with clean hands;
• to prevent furunculosis, the udder is washed with tar soap and the cow is given multivitamins;
• get vaccinated against foot and mouth disease;
• protect cows from injury;
• Gradually stop milking before calving.

Cows with infectious diseases are milked last. Their milk is expressed in separate containers, preventing drops from falling on the floor. With unilateral mastitis, the healthy portion of the udder is emptied first. Milk from the affected lobe is destroyed.