Indian J. Anim. Hlth.

(2015), 54(2) : 157 - 158 Short Communication

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF TEAT SPIDER AND

TEAT FISTULA IN A DAIRY COW
L. BHOWMIK , P. K. KHAN, S. BHOWMICK,
R. BOSE, S. ROY, N. J. MAITRA, P. MUKHERJEE1* AND S. K. NANDI2
Ramkrishna Asram Krishi Vighyan Kendra
P.O.- Nimpith Ashram, South 24 Parganas
West Bengal, Pin-743 338
This case report represents a clinical study of 3.5 years of age crossbred Jersey cow presented in cattle
farm of RAKVK, Nimpith with the history of leaking milk from left hind teat, physically diagnosed as
teat spider alongwith teat fistula and thereby it’s successful surgical management.

Key words : Teat spider, Teat fistula, Cow, Surgery

In organized dairy farm, affections of teat
and udder of cattle is very much common.
Early diagnosis and treatment of such
problems is very crucial for maintenance
of their health vis-à-vis milk production
(Singh, 2014). These affections are mainly
supernumerary or extra teats, teat fistula,
fibrosis of teat canal, teat spider etc. Some
anomalies are directly related to teat
sphincter like stenosis of teat or ‘hard
milker’, enlarged teat orifice or ‘free
milker’ and ‘blind teat’ Although, incidence
of teat spider and teat fistula both are not
very common in dairy animals, this
condition needs to be treated urgently not
only to prevent milk loss but also to keep
the udder health in optimum condition. The
present study deals with successful
management of teat spider in a dairy cow.
A crossbred Jersey cow of 3.5 years of age
was presented in cattle farm of RAKVK,
Nimpith with the history of leaking milk
*Corresponding author
1
Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, WBUAFS.
2
Department of Surgery & Radiology, WBUAFS.
from left hind teat in the stage of 1st lactation
3 days post parturition. The animal was
otherwise apparently healthy and appetite
was normal. There was one supernumerary
teat in the right side of the hind quarter.
Major complication was leaking of milk
from a teat sinus of the hind quarter just near
the internal sphincter of udder but no passing
of milk through teat canal of left teat of hind
quarter. On physical examination, teat was
found soft. An unusual ring like structure
was felt near the base of affected teat
following a sinus like structure and an
invagination was also found on exertion of
upward pressure with finger.
The condition may be due to some
membranous or fibrous tissue blockage in
the teat canal. After proper surgical
scrubbing and preparation, teat slitter was
introduced as well as teat bistouries
instrument for clearing those membranous
158 Indian Journal of Animal Health, December, 2015
or fibrous tissue blockage. After that, drop
by drop milk was coming out through the
teat canal. Left teat fistula was repaired by
two row of vertical mattress suture with
non-absorbable material after debridement
under local anesthesia using 2% xylocaine
hydrochloride around base of teat after
dusting the site with gentamicin solution.
Inj. Cefotaxime was used @10mg /kg body
weight intramuscularly twice daily for 5
days along with intra-mammary infusion of
antibiotics. Daily dressing with gentamicin
solution was done and siphoning the milk
every now and then 2 days interval. Suture
was removed 10 days postoperatively.
Teat spider in cattle and buffalo is
congenital as well as acquired condition
(Johnson, 1988 and Singh et al., 1993). The
physical examination was corroborated with
the findings of Ather et al. (1999) and
confirmed as teat spider. No pain sensation
was found during entire surgical process as
local anaesthetic technique facilitated
REFERENCES
Singh T, 2014. Affections of teat and udder in
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Article received on 02.08.2015 and accepted for publication on 30.11.1215
surgical repair of the teat and udder (Steiner
and Rotz, 2003). After 10 days, animal was
totally cured showing normal mammary
gland activity and milk ejection. Teat
wounds represent the higher acquired teat
affections (28.16%) while the
supernumerary teat represents the highest
congenital teat abnormalities 36.8 % (Singh
et al., 1993). Supernumerary teat frequently
interferes with milking process and
objectionable on show animals without
significant effect on milk yield and lactation
length. The clinical success from udder and
teat surgery depends mostly upon aseptic
measures, proper restraint of animal as well
as adequate postoperative care (Arnold,
1960). Besides, it was observed that the
prevalence of udder and teat affections were
more in November, December, January and
February, whenever the weather was cold
and rainy and stables were muddy (Nouh
et al., 2014). In the present study, the case
was developed in the month of November.
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