Surgical management of unilateral gangrenous udder in a cow: A clinical study

Abstract

Gangrenous mastitis is a per-acute form of mastitis, characterized by necrosis of the udder tissue causing severe acute inflammation, with classical signs of heat and redness. In gangrenous mastitis, surgical removal of the dead and dying tissue is an immediate management option. Therefore, in the present study a case of gangrenous mastitis was managed by partial mastectomy of the affected quarter under local anaesthesia using 2% lignocaine hydrochloride with favorable prognosis of the mastectomized udder of a cow suffering from the naturally occurring gangrenous mastitis without any major complication after 10 days of post-treatment and management. To avoid secondary complications, Postoperative management was done by administering Injection Floxidin - LA 30ml i/m for 5days, Injection Melonex power 10ml i/m for 3 days, topical application included (Bismuth subnitrate 10gms+ Iodoform20gms+ Liquid paraffin 450ml) applied until healing was acheived and Bovispray were used as a fly repellent. The incision site was inspected daily and the drains removed over a period of 4 days. A purulent exudate began to flow from the infected mammary tissue, which was draining efficiently till clinical recovery by day 20 post treatment and management, when the animal started to produce apparently normal milk from the unaffected quarters of the udder.