Surgical Management of the Teat and the Udder

Abstract

Lacerations of the teat should be treated as emergency. First-intention repair should be attempted under sedation in lateral or dorsal recumbency. Surgeons should pay attention to the atraumatic manipulation of the tissue and the anatomic reconstruction using small-diameter absorbable suture material. Hand milking should be prohibited for 10 days postoperatively after laceration repair; prognosis is overall good. Ultrasound evaluation of the teat allows excellent understanding of the internal lesions and should be performed before planning any elective surgery. Milk outflow impairment originating from the rosette of Fürstenberg or the streak canal is best treated using minimally invasive surgery (theloscopy).

Keywords: Cattle; Laceration; Milk flow disorders; Surgery; Teat.