Teat injury, is it possible to save?

DroppedAtBirth · #1 10/21/13, 12:36 AM

It's kind of hard to see in the photos because they were taken before I got all of the debris cleaned off of her but that teat is torn in past the orifice. I can still express milk through there but the rest of the teat bleeds and she HATES it (understandably so the poor soul). The back teat on same side has some abrasions to it as well but they only appear superficial.

This is my girl that has been down this past week. We have her up and moving under her own power finally and steady on her feet (yay) and I can get at this side of her udder for better cleaning and I hope getting her milked out. When she was down all she'd let me do was clean it and then when I'd try anything else, she'd shift her big butt around so I couldn't get at the teat and I wasn't allowed UNDER the cow with her up and shaky even in the hip rings.

It's been all bag balm, fly spray, and warm soapy water this week...Is there anything I can do to save that quadrant?

**gone-a-milkin** · #2 10/21/13, 07:32 AM

Just do your best to keep it milked out, even though she is going to hate it.

An injury there could heal up just fine, but it is going to take some boldness in expressing that milk so she doesn't get mastitis.
You might need some help holding her.
The fact that she is weak could be to your advantge.

A lot of times they will kick for the first couple of squeezes,
then settle down.
At leaast you have a little room to hold on above the injury.

Glad to hear you got her up and going again.
You are planning to dry her up anyhow, isnt that right?

Good luck with her, she has had a rough time this last while.

DroppedAtBirth · #3 10/21/13, 07:57 AM

Yes we are drying her up. She's laying down again this morning but was getting up on her own yesterday. If she does as well today, I think I can get her in the barn and use the surge milker on her.

I know it's a stingy procedure but could I use Epsom salt soaks on it?

She's worth any rodeo that might have to happen to get her all the way mended.

jwal10 · #4 10/21/13, 09:45 AM

If it is not infected I would just keep it soft, maybe Neosporin every other time. Don't milk a lot out, you are drying her up. Did you get good minerals for her?

James

DroppedAtBirth · #5 10/21/13, 02:35 PM

OMG I LOVE this cow. Surge milker on and NO kick she's not even complaining a little. I wanna cry for her she's being so good :')

DroppedAtBirth · #6 10/21/13, 02:37 PM

Spoke too soon lol, complaint was a manure/mud covered tail upside my head. I'm not gonna complain though

myheaven · #7 10/21/13, 03:04 PM

Tie her tail. Put a rope around her belly in front of her bag, tie it on top of her spine. Tie her tail looped up she can't swing her tail or kick.

SpaceCadet12364 · #8 10/21/13, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DroppedAtBirth

Spoke too soon lol, complaint was a manure/mud covered tail upside my head. I'm not gonna complain though

Been there ,done that and didn't even get a t-shirt. Hazard of owning a cow.

myheaven · #9 10/21/13, 03:08 PM

My goat gashed her teat super bad this summer. I'm talking blood and pouring milk. I used super glue and butter fly tape. It healed perfectly. Milk her out spray down her teat with a light bleach water solution. With her tail tied glue the torn area back together. Tape super well. Don't!!!!! Remove tape till it falls off on their own.

DroppedAtBirth · #10 10/21/13, 05:44 PM

I'm OK with the tail complaint. She hurts and only whacked me once in more than an hour of work. Got some today up the teat and slathered with bag balm again. I have liquid bandaids, I think is the same as super glue....its A crush/tear injury though, will the wound knit as well as a sharp injury?

Awnry Abe · #11 10/21/13, 08:56 PM

good girl.

DroppedAtBirth · #12 10/21/13, 09:50 PM

The teat is hot and swollen now

Going to try some warm soaks and milking her some some more as soon as dinner is done cooking. Temp was 104.5 when last out there. She's still eating and getting up on her own though. Will try some neosporin type topical antibiotic in with the bag balm...will see if I can get the edges back together.

Taking her out some baby carrots too...maybe some apples...something for a good treat...

Jupiter · #13 10/22/13, 08:03 AM

Had this happen to one of our Jerseys, & you just wanna cry for them. We used something you can squirt up in the teat & it drys them up. We did it twice & that quater dried up.

jwal10 · #14 10/22/13, 11:29 AM

IF the milk canal gets plugged you can put a dilator in the canal. Been years but I believe they were made by the same company as bag balm, came in a tiny square tin, packed in a ointment....James

jwal10 · #15 10/22/13, 11:32 AM

Looked them up, Dr Naylor....James

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CEYQ9QEwAA

DroppedAtBirth · #16 10/22/13, 04:43 PM

Yes, picked them up today at the farmers co op. Have more Today and some long acting penicillin (just in case). She looked and milked better this morning. She seems to enjoy the warm Epsom salt soaks but isn't thrilled with the massage portion. Still standing still like a champ though and not even flicking me with that tail anymore. She loves the post torture brushing she's been getting too. Oh and back to normal temp this a.m.

**gone-a-milkin** · #17 10/22/13, 04:48 PM

Dont use those dialators unless you absolutely have to; they are a last resort.
They create superhighway for bacteria to enter the teat canal,
and can damage the teat-end sphincter.

mary,tx · #18 10/22/13, 07:29 PM

I would also hesitate to put gooey ointment like the neosporin or bag balm on it since that will catch bacteria, imo.

DroppedAtBirth · #19 10/23/13, 12:58 AM

OK I won't. Actually bought them before I checked the updates here but 10 for the box was cheaper than the drive back to town later. How far up the teat does the sphincter travel as she's lost almost 1/4 inch from that right front teat. Still trying to figure out how to bandage it though as moist wound care has better results with healing.

By the way...how the heck am I supposed to dry her off like the vet wanted me to AND successfully treat this mastitis?

**gone-a-milkin** · #20 10/23/13, 07:44 AM

The sphincter is just a small ring-shaped muscle at the very end of the teat canal.
If milk isnt pouring out when she lets down, then it is likely not damaged.
How about a fresh photo of the injury so we can get a clearer idea of what you are dealing with?

In my experience (30 years

of dairying) any cow that is dried up w/ mastitis
WILL come fresh with it. It does not just go away, even with dry treatment.
So, if you hope to save the quarter then it is going to take some effort.

Another week or 2 of milking while treating her shouldnt hurt her.
It is for her own good, afterall.

She is in such poor condition though, you may end up losing the quarter anyhow.
Is the infection responding to antibiotics?
The longer it is allowed to grow in the udder, the more scarring it will do.

Stay dilligent and good luck.