Mammary gland diseases (non-mastitis)

Question 1

What teat diseases can occur?

Answer 1

• Teat end injury
• Acquired teat-cistern obstructions
• Lacerations

Question 2

What are the clinical signs of teat end injuries?

Answer 2

• Painful soft tissue swelling of the distal teat
• Incomplete milk-out from affected quarters
• Mastitis

Question 3

How would we treat teat obstructions?

Answer 3

• Downward pressure applied
• Remove plug
• Cannulate to keep open

Question 4

How do we treat teat injuries and lacerations?

Answer 4

• Clean and disinfect the wound
• Dress teat orifice with anti-septic cream and bandage after milking
• Treat any deep wounds
• Cannulation for 24 hours - so milk does not delay healing
• ATB if needed

Question 5

What can cause a breakdown or loss of the support apparatus of the teat?

Answer 5

1. Genetics
2. Nutritional - poor vitamin & mineral balances
3. Management - delayed treatment of udders
4. Multiparous cows in herds producing a lot of milk

Question 6

Describe the pathogenesis of a breakdown or loss of support apparatus

Answer 6

1. Loosening of the support apparatus due to poor muscle and ligament quality
2. Dropped of udder to floor
3. Lateral deviation of teats

Question 7

What are the clinical signs of a breakdown of the MEDIAL laminae?

Answer 7

The medial longitudinal groove between the left and right halves of the udder disappear

Question 8

What are the clinical signs of a breakdown of the lateral laminae?

Answer 8

The udder is at the level of the hocks or lower

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of a loss of fore udder support?

Answer 9

Forequarters appear detached from the ventral abdominal wall

Question 10

How do we treat a breakdown or loss of support apparatus?

Answer 10

There is no treatment.

Question 11

What can cause udder haematomas?

Answer 11

• Self-induced trauma
• External trauma
• Caudal udder haematomas, e.g. thrombosis or rupture of te perineal vein

Question 12

What are the clinical signs of udder haematoma in lactating cows?

Answer 12

Soft tissue swelling cranial to the udder and blood from the teats

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of udder haematoma in dry cows?

Answer 13

Swelling ventral to the vulva and dorsal to the read quarters

Question 14

What are the clinical signs of udder oedma?

Answer 14

• Fluctuant, soft and firm
• Varying degrees of blood
• Painless and cool

Question 15

What is the prognosis for udder haematomas?

Answer 15

Usually good with conservative treatment.

Guarded if progressive enlargement and anaemia, leading to death within 2-7 days

Question 16

What is the main differential for an udder haematoma?

Answer 16

Udder abscess

Question 17

How do we treat udder haematomas?

Answer 17

1. Box or stall rest - monitoring for 12-24 hours
2. Whole blood transfusion in severe cases

Question 18

What are examples of INAPPROPRIATE treatment of udder haematomas?

Answer 18

• NSAID USE - heightens the risk of bleeding
• INCISION - risk of severe bleeding

Question 19

What is a leaker teat?

Answer 19

When high intra-mammary pressure in high-producing cows leads to milk to drip from the teat

Question 20

What are the consequences of leaker teats?

Answer 20

Mastitis will occur

Question 21

What is the treatment of leaker teat?

Answer 21

None - cull

Question 22

What are the causes of udder oedema?

Answer 22

• Physiological - few weeks before calving in heifers
• Genetics
• Cardac conditions
• Caudal vena cava thrombosis
• Mammary gland thrombosis
• Hypoproteinaemia
• High protein diets
• High dietary potassium

Question 23

What are the clinical signs and consequences associated with udder oedema?

Answer 23

• Doughy, pitted consistency of the udder
• Painful
• Milking problems
• Mastitis risk

Question 24

Which quarter/s are most commonly affected by udder oedema?

Answer 24

Rear quarters and the floor of the udder

Question 25

How do we treat udder oedema?

Answer 25

1. Diuretics - furosemide - 0.5-1mg/kg 2. Salt restriction 3. Frequent milking or calf suckling 4. Udder supports 5. Metritis treatment

Question 26

What is intertrigo?

Answer 26

Udder cleft dermatitis - foul semlling areas of moist dermatitis in the udder clefts

Question 27

What can cause intertrigo?

Answer 27

* Pressure necrosis - udder oedema * *Fusobacterium necrophorum* * *Trueperella pyogenes* * Rarely * *Chorioptic mange* * *Malassezia spp*

Question 28

What are the clinical signs of intertrigo?

Answer 28

* Fetid odour * Skin necrosis of large patches of skin * **_Lameness_**

Question 29

How do we treat intertrigo?

Answer 29

* Disinfection - H202 or betadine * Keep area dry * ATB if required

Question 30

What infectious agents cause udder diseases?

Answer 30

1. Pseudocowpox 2. Bovine ulcerative mammilitis 3. Papillomatosis (esp BPV-5 & BPV-6) 4. Caprine arthritis and encephalitis 5. FMD 6. Vesicular stomatitis 7. Orf 8. BVDV 9. IBR 10. Brucellosis 11. Q fever

Question 31

What is Q fever?

Answer 31

*Coxiella burnetti*

Question 32

How is Q fever transmitted?

Answer 32

Ticks - *Ixodes & Argas spp.*

Question 33

What are the clinical signs of Q fever?

Answer 33

* Abortion or stillbirth * Retained placenta * Endometritis * Infertility * Agalactia * Fever * Mastitis