Post by barefootfarmer on Jan 8, 2014 11:11:24 GMT -5
I always use an iodine based solution for pre and post teat dips. Recently I've had a cow develop what almost looked like chemical burns on her teats. It's her second lactation and I'm doing everything the same as her first.
Here is what happened: She calved the first week of December. Things were good. Teats were fine, no kickiness at all etc. Then I noticed she was starting to get little cut marks at the top of her teats, where they meet her udder. She didn't have a calf on her at that point. And they were circular, not they typical calf cuts. I continued with the iodine dips.
Then, about two weeks later, her teats started looking like when your fingers have been submerged in water too long...wrinkly and kind of weird. Her milk production was still going up. At that point I post dipped with iodine, let it dry off. Then I applied Udder balm. At the next milking, her skin was starting to peel off the teats. Again, I used iodine pre-dip, washed, dried, post dipped iodine, let dry. Then I applied a triple antibiotic ointment.
Next morning, her skin looked like a chemical burn. Worst thing I've ever seen. Called the vet and he had me pick up some Quadritrop used for cats and dogs as an ointment. I stopped with the iodine. Things got worse before better. But after a full week, her teats had healed back up.
So I went back to my usual routine. And her teats started heading towards that raw, peeling look. This time I stopped the iodine and started applying an A&D ointment from the grocery store. And I've been giving 4 of the 1,000 potency vit E pills with each milking. The teats healed up again.
The vet hasn't been as helpful as I'd like. He suggested a chemical burn or due to the cold. I asked about the chemical burn and he texted back that we'd talk later, he had to go. But no other course of action. The second time, I asked if she might be sensitive to iodine. He said it would be unusual, but not impossible. Then he suggested I pick up more meds and switch to a different teat dip.
Does anyone else have a cow with an iodine sensitivity? What do you use? I'm afraid to just start applying things willy nilly to her teats. As it is, I've been dumping her milk to the livestock because her skin integrity was compromised, and now because I'm not teat dipping.
Also, I milk five other cows and none of them have any issues.
Sorry this was so long. I guess I had a lot to say...
Here is what happened: She calved the first week of December. Things were good. Teats were fine, no kickiness at all etc. Then I noticed she was starting to get little cut marks at the top of her teats, where they meet her udder. She didn't have a calf on her at that point. And they were circular, not they typical calf cuts. I continued with the iodine dips.
Then, about two weeks later, her teats started looking like when your fingers have been submerged in water too long...wrinkly and kind of weird. Her milk production was still going up. At that point I post dipped with iodine, let it dry off. Then I applied Udder balm. At the next milking, her skin was starting to peel off the teats. Again, I used iodine pre-dip, washed, dried, post dipped iodine, let dry. Then I applied a triple antibiotic ointment.
Next morning, her skin looked like a chemical burn. Worst thing I've ever seen. Called the vet and he had me pick up some Quadritrop used for cats and dogs as an ointment. I stopped with the iodine. Things got worse before better. But after a full week, her teats had healed back up.
So I went back to my usual routine. And her teats started heading towards that raw, peeling look. This time I stopped the iodine and started applying an A&D ointment from the grocery store. And I've been giving 4 of the 1,000 potency vit E pills with each milking. The teats healed up again.
The vet hasn't been as helpful as I'd like. He suggested a chemical burn or due to the cold. I asked about the chemical burn and he texted back that we'd talk later, he had to go. But no other course of action. The second time, I asked if she might be sensitive to iodine. He said it would be unusual, but not impossible. Then he suggested I pick up more meds and switch to a different teat dip.
Does anyone else have a cow with an iodine sensitivity? What do you use? I'm afraid to just start applying things willy nilly to her teats. As it is, I've been dumping her milk to the livestock because her skin integrity was compromised, and now because I'm not teat dipping.
Also, I milk five other cows and none of them have any issues.
Sorry this was so long. I guess I had a lot to say...