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They learned how to treat warts on a cow's udder back in ancient times. Now, some cattle owners still use old folk methods, ignoring modern methods of treating papillomatosis. Often growths on the udder disappear on their own, however, in some cases, papillomas lead to sad consequences and the death of the animal. Every cow owner should know how this disease manifests itself and methods for preventing papillomatosis in cattle.
Why does a cow have warts on her udder?
Bovine papillomatosis is a chronic viral disease characterized by the formation of benign tumors (warts) on the mucous membranes and skin. The causative agent of bovine papillomatosis belongs to DNA genomic viruses of the Papovaviridae family, genus Papillomavirus.
Infection of an animal most often occurs in direct contact with a carrier of the virus when infected and healthy cows are kept together, as well as:
- through the hands of service personnel;
- through animal care equipment;
- when branding;
- with bites of blood-sucking insects.
Infection with the virus can occur during mating with genital papillomatosis in a bull.However, in this case, neoplasms appear on the mucous membranes of the genital organs. Calves during the suckling period feeding on the milk of a sick cow that has growths on the nipples can also become infected with this unpleasant disease.
Animals kept in unsanitary conditions often suffer from papillomatosis. Dirty feeders, drinking bowls, dampness, and failure to comply with basic hygiene standards during milking affect the health of cattle.
The following also lead to a decrease in immunity and the manifestation of the disease:
- unbalanced feeding;
- poor quality of feed;
- lack of exercise and quality water.
In pasture-keeping animals, there are frequent cases of infection of animals when drinking from dirty stagnant reservoirs and ponds.
Neoplasms can affect any part of the animal's body. In cows, the udder most often suffers. During the grazing period, when grazing freely, animals often receive microtrauma to the udder. During the stall period, they are also not excluded during machine milking or crowded housing of cattle.
Through cracks, scratches and abrasions on the nipples, the animal can become infected with the virus. Warts on a cow's udder appear in the form of small, dense and smooth growths, which over time can increase in size and cover the entire area of the mammary gland, including the nipples. The sizes of benign neoplasms vary from millet grain to a chicken egg.
Papillomas grow slowly, so small nodules are completely invisible in the first months of the disease. In severe cases, the warts unite (grow together) and form folds.
Why are growths on a cow’s udder dangerous?
In some cases, growths on the udder go away without treatment. Warts often disappear during pregnancy or after calving. Therefore, many owners are in no hurry to take any measures when small papillomas are detected, especially in young animals. However, veterinary specialists believe that the manifestation of papillomatosis cannot be ignored, since this disease primarily indicates a decrease in immunity.
From the moment of infection until the first tumors appear, three to eight weeks pass. The first small growths, as a rule, do not cause discomfort to the animal. However, over time, small papillomas can increase to 10-15 cm in diameter. After 4-6 months, the warts thicken, dry out and fall off after 8-12 weeks. When injured, warts begin to bleed, ulcerate and become easily infected.
In some cases, papillomas form inside the nipple (on the epithelium of the nipple canal) and the milk cistern. The cow's udder becomes lumpy and painful. When milked, small blood clots may be seen in the milk. The productivity of the animal decreases sharply.
In the absence of drug treatment, papillomas block the nipple canal and prevent the removal of secretions. The cow develops mastitis, swelling and atrophy of the udder.
Sometimes even small papillomas degenerate into a malignant tumor, which can lead to the death of the animal. Therefore, it is not recommended to remove it yourself.
If you find warts on the skin of a cow’s udder, first of all you need to call a veterinarian to your home or consult with a specialist and take a photo of the growths. In any case, the diagnosis of papillomatosis is made on the basis of laboratory tests.
How to remove warts from a cow's udder
Treatment of papillomas on the udder of cows must begin with a thorough analysis of the feeding diet and living conditions of the animals. If growths are detected on the skin of the mammary gland and other parts of the body, the sick individual should be isolated from the herd.
If you find a single, large wart on the udder of a cow, you can use the old and proven method - tying the growth with a silk thread. This method of wart removal can be used if the growth tapers at the root (has a stalk). Bandaging the base of the papilloma prevents the blood supply to the neoplasm, and after a while it dries out and falls off.
Large and medium-sized warts on a cow's udder should be removed. Papillomas can reach impressive sizes - the size of a chicken egg or a walnut. Before removal, 1-2 ml of a 2% novocaine solution is injected into the base of the papilloma, then the tumor is removed along with the skin. A suture is placed on the wound and treated with antiseptics. Small and flat warts can be lubricated with acetic acid and salicylic ointment.
To quickly heal wounds after removing or cauterizing warts, you can use the Aluminum Spray suspension and the broad-spectrum antibiotic Terramycin Spray.
If the cow's udder is extensively damaged by growths, complex treatment is necessary. Externally, papillomas are cauterized with nitric, carbolic acid, lapis, high-frequency currents (electrocoagulation) or treated with liquid nitrogen.
To get rid of warts and quickly remove them from the cow's udder, an effective remedy, “Antiwart,” salicylic ointment, is also used.
The diet of a sick cow includes magnesium sulfate in a dosage of 30-50 g for a course of 10 days. To stabilize the body's defense system, it is necessary to take a course of immunostimulating drugs:
- "Gamavit";
- "Fosprenil";
- "Interferon";
- "Mixoferon";
- "Eleovit".
Intramuscular injections of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) are also prescribed for two days in the morning and evening. First, 1 ml of a 2% novocaine solution is injected under the base of the tumor. You can also use novocaine blockade with a 1% solution in a dosage of 60-80 ml (intravenously) with an interval of one day. A total of 3-5 injections are required. To treat warts, intravenous administration of a 1% solution of novocaine and penicillin is also used.
Folk remedies for the treatment of papillomas in cattle
To remove warts from milking cows, you can use simple and effective folk methods:
- rubbing the udder with a decoction of sprouted potatoes (or peels) three times a day;
- applying finely grated onion mixture to the warts once a day or treating with juice 2-3 times a day;
- You can cure warts on a cow's udder by lubricating it with a mixture of one glass (200-250 ml) of vegetable oil, heated in a frying pan with chopped onions and wax (20-25 g) for 7-14 days;
- spot treatment of growths on the cow's udder with ammonia;
- applying a mixture of grated garlic and lard (1:1 ratio) to the affected areas of the mammary gland twice a day;
- lubricating the affected areas of the skin with whey for a month;
- rubbing a mixture of crushed horseradish root and salt into the affected areas in a 1:1 ratio until complete recovery;
- daily lubrication of nipples with castor oil for 30-40 days;
- treatment of areas of the udder affected by papillomas with solid oil. Each time after milking for 2-3 weeks (before applying the mixture, wash the desired area with clean warm water);
- washing the udder bowl and nipples with a warm decoction of lungwort (1 tbsp dry herb per 2 tbsp boiling water) throughout the day (4-6 times).
Prevention of papillomatosis in cows
To prevent the occurrence of udder papillomatosis in cows, it is necessary to follow the basic rules for keeping cattle:
- keep the barns clean - remove manure on time, change the bedding twice a day;
- do not allow animals to be kept crowded;
- thoroughly disinfect equipment, care items, feeders and drinking bowls;
- infected animals should be immediately isolated from healthy ones, and the premises should be disinfected;
- before milking, the cow’s udder must be inspected for microtraumas, washed with warm water and wiped dry;
- before and after milking, the skin can be treated with “Caring Milkmaid” ointment, which helps heal cracks, scratches and restore the epithelium.
Some animals that carry the virus do not develop the disease. Therefore, cattle owners are recommended to conduct regular preventive examinations and laboratory tests.
The best prevention of bovine papillomatosis is vaccination.Typically, veterinary specialists make the vaccine themselves, using biomaterial (papillomas) from sick animals. With frequent manifestations of papillomatosis in large herds, young animals are vaccinated for the first time at the age of 12 months. Revaccination is carried out after two weeks.
Conclusion
There are different ways to treat warts on a cow's udder. Drug treatment should only be carried out by a veterinary specialist. Severe forms of papillomatosis can lead to atrophy of the udder and the degeneration of a benign neoplasm into a malignant tumor. To prevent a cow from becoming infected with the virus, it is necessary to follow the rules of keeping the animal, conduct preventive examinations of the udder for neoplasms, and also vaccinate the cattle on time.
