Associations between teat injuries and fistula formation in lactating dairy cows treated with surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine associations between rate of fistula formation and parity, lactation period, wound age, wound location, and shape of teat injuries in surgically treated teats in dairy cows.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
106 lactating dairy cows with teat lacerations.


METHODS
Lacerations were classified via shape, location, and age. Associations between potential risk factors and fistula formation were analyzed. Seasonal distribution, type of injured teat, parity, and days in lactation were determined.


RESULTS
Cows with teat injury in their first and second parity had 4.1 times the odds of fistula formation, compared with cows with parity >or= 3. Teats sutured within 48 to 72 hours of injury had 8.3 times the odds of fistula formation, compared with teats sutured within the first 24 hours. Cows in early lactation stage (first 60 days of lactation) were more susceptible to teat injuries. Occurrence of teat injury was greater at the third, fourth, and fifth parity.


CONCLUSIONS
Season, parity, and lactation period were associated with prevalence of teat injury in lactating dairy cows in a range system. Neither the type of suture material used nor the suturing technique was associated with effects on healing of the operated full-thickness teat wounds. Factors such as parity and age of the wound can be associated with delay in the healing process, which may result in fistula formation.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Saeed
S
Azizi
Farshid Sarrafzadeh
FS
Rezaei
Siamak
S
Saifzadeh
Bahram
B
Dalir-Naghadeh
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology