Abstract
The objectives were to describe a distal teat amputation and determine the long-term outcomes in dairy cows. This retrospective study examined medical records of 22 lactating dairy cows admitted to the Farm Animal Hospital from 2015 to 2021 for distal teat and papillary canal injuries that received a distal teat amputation as the sole surgical treatment. Long-term follow-up was obtained from the Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) and milk producers to determine whether the cows remained in the herd and identify whether any factors affected this outcome. The hindquarters were affected in 18 of the 22 distally amputated teats (82%; 95% CI, 66% to 98%). Mastitis was the most common postoperative complication. Of the 22 cows, CDN and follow-up information was available for 18 cows (82%). Of these 18 cows, 13 (72%; 95% CI, 51% to 93%) remained in the herd for at least the start of a subsequent lactation following surgery. Lactating dairy cows had a favorable chance of remaining in the herd following a distal teat amputation. Decreased milking efficiency caused by distal teat injuries can be a source of economic loss for the milk producer. Distal teat amputation to reestablish milk flow was a practical procedure that required attentive postoperative care.
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