teat warts?

[bulldog]

Our frist year cow has a large growth on her teat. it looks just like a dogs dew claw, is hard and plugs off the teat in the milker. There are a whole bunch more coming on that and her other teats. Are these warts? Can we cut the big one off? Thanks

[FlowerFieldFarm]

Sorry, no help here, but I'm so glad you asked because I have a heifer with the exact same problem.

[Ronney]

Warts on teats appear as small rounded lumps or long, thin branches. They are mildly infectious, predispose to cracking of the teats and can make milking difficult. Does that sound like what you have?

If so, treatment usually isn't necessary unless the size interferes with milking in which case they can either be snipped off and bound with gauze for a few hours to stop bleeding, or surgically removed. Other than that, apply a non-greasy teat salve after every milking, make sure she is the last cow milked and if not disinfect the cups before putting on the next cow, and wash your own hands before handling another cow.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[springvalley]

I have a few cows with these, and it is a virus, they will go away in time. I have tried differant things to get rid of them and while somethings work better than others, most do nothing. Tea tree oil did nothing for me on these bugers, so I have no idea what to tell ya to do. > Marc

[FlowerFieldFarm]

Oh darn... I tried the tea tree oil yesterday hoping that would fix it =(

[springvalley]

It may work for you, so try it , could work. > Marc

[Cyngbaeld]

Try giving her some magnesium. About a teaspoon of epsom salts in a gallon of water. Warts are a symptom of magnesium deficiency. You can also give dolomite instead of the epsom salts. I had a doe who developed teat warts soon after she kidded (right after I got her) and they cleared right up with the dolomite.

[MARYDVM]

The hard, longer, keratinized warts can often be twisted/peeled off without any cutting.