Content
Various mammary gland diseases are common in low- and high-producing animals. One of these is udder gangrene in cows. It can occur during periods of lactation or dry wood at any time of the year. A surge in incidence is observed during periods of increased lactation, as well as for 10-15 days after the birth of a calf.
Causes of udder gangrene in cows
Gangrene is a putrefactive process that leads to tissue breakdown followed by drying out. It is caused by microbes, autolysis and various environmental factors. Necrosis can occur on almost any area of the skin.
Gangrene occurs due to the direct impact on tissue of exogenous or endogenous factors. Scientists and veterinarians identify the following causes of the disease:
- presence of bedsores;
- compression and crushing of tissues;
- mechanical tears of the skin;
- serious burns;
- tissue frostbite;
- hernias that lead to intestinal strangulation;
- twists;
- direct impact of purulent, purulent-putrefactive, anaerobic microflora on skin areas.
When making a diagnosis, multiple internal causes of gangrene are taken into account:
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- endocrine and vasomotor disorders;
- blood clots;
- starvation;
- ruptures of blood vessels;
- significant blood loss.
There are two types of udder gangrene: dry and wet.
Clinical signs
The disease has pronounced clinical signs, which enable the owner of cattle to promptly determine the presence of udder gangrene and seek veterinary help. At the first stage, single or multiple spots form on the udder. They are characterized by:
- dense to the touch;
- soreness when touched;
- red or blue.
The process of gangrenous damage to udder tissue occurs very quickly. Just a few days after the first signs of inflammation appear, the second, dangerous stage begins with the following clinical manifestations:
- high body temperature of the cow;
- the formation of multiple seals throughout the udder;
- rapidly developing disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- at the base of the part of the udder in which the focus of the inflammatory process is located, a pronounced bright blue line of demarcation appears;
- both in the diseased and in the healthy portion of the udder tissue, the amount of secreted secretion is rapidly decreasing;
- the affected quarter increases sharply in size;
- against the background of the inflammatory process, the lymph nodes become larger and more painful.
Course of the disease
With dry gangrene, progressive drying of skin tissue is observed without changing its structure. As the disease progresses, it acquires a bluish, red or even black tint. The longer gangrene lasts, the less sensitive the affected area becomes. The temperature in it decreases significantly, and venous stagnation occurs in the affected area. Every day the tissues become drier as the liquid evaporates completely.The result of complete evaporation of the liquid is called mummification of the tissue.
Wet gangrene is a process of putrefactive tissue decay, which is provoked by microbes and autolysis in conditions of impaired circulation of venous blood and lymphatic fluid.
In the area affected by the disease, a large amount of liquid begins to accumulate, which includes putrefactive microflora, toxins, and protein breakdown products. It is the accumulation of this fluid that causes the rapid death of adjacent tissues, which is why the demarcation line is poorly visible and appears at critical stages of the disease.
Due to the intense absorption of harmful substances by the body, the process of intoxication of the livestock body occurs. If you remove the microbial factor with antibiotics, there is a chance that wet gangrene of the udder will become dry.
Treatment of udder gangrene
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to confirm the validity of the diagnosis. To do this, a number of laboratory tests are carried out, including the collection of anamnestic and epizootic data, as well as a general clinical examination.
When compiling an anamnesis, a number of factors are taken into account that can provoke the occurrence of mastitis and, as a result, a complication - udder gangrene. The food conditions are also considered; this helps to establish the cause of the disease.
To treat standard udder gangrene, the following number of methods are used:
- A sick cow is isolated from the herd and transferred to a separate place to ensure a calm regime.
- To normalize the general tone, intravenous injections with nutrients are used, as a rule, a mixture of calcium chloride, caffeine, Kadykov's fluid, glucose and methenamine is administered.
- To localize and relieve the inflammatory process, loading doses of antibiotics are administered intramuscularly.
- It is imperative that Lugol's solution with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, diluted potassium permanganate and oxygen is injected into the mammary gland through the nipple canal. After 15 minutes, Lugol's solution is removed from the body. Antibiotics mixed with novocaine or saline are administered through the cleaned channels in the same way, brought to a temperature of 35-37 degrees. Anti-mastitis medications are used as an alternative to antibiotics. It is strictly forbidden to massage the breast.
- Purulent foci of gangrene are opened surgically, making wide incisions.
- Wounds from cuts and tissue destruction are regularly treated with hydrogen peroxide every 4 hours, after which they are sprinkled with a special powder. You can use iodoform or mix streptocide and potassium permanganate in a 3:1 ratio.
- To speed up the healing of open wounds, it is recommended to use antiseptic ointments, creams or solutions, for example, balsamic liniment (Vishnevsky ointment).
If treatment does not produce visible results within 5-6 days, the cow is culled.
Forecast
If udder gangrene is detected at the first stage and treated effectively, negative consequences can be avoided. As practice shows, due to the rapid progression of the disease, udder gangrene is diagnosed when the inflammatory process is already seriously advanced.
With a qualified approach, the pathological process of tissue destruction and suppuration can be localized to the affected quarter, after which a number of therapeutic methods can be applied.
The high mortality rate is due to the specific nature of the disease - udder gangrene. Against the background of the inflammatory process, embolic foci are also diagnosed in various organs, mainly in the kidneys, liver and lungs. The cattle eventually die due to septicemia.
Prevention
To prevent udder gangrene, the following measures are used:
- systematic examinations focusing on changes in the mammary gland;
- wiping the udder before milking with a towel soaked in sodium hypochlorite;
- After milking, the teats are lubricated with a disinfectant.
Conclusion
Gangrene of the udder in cows occurs mainly as a side effect of mastitis. Because of this, the issue of prevention of this disease, timely identification by clinical signs and effective treatment is urgent.
