Professor University of Montreal La Presentation, Quebec, Canada
Injuries to the streak canal are very common in cattle. It could be from the cow stepping on her own teat or from a trauma from neighboring cow. It can also be secondary to excessive cannulation by the owner. The traumatized canal will completely or partially obstruct the milk flow. It will also predispose the quarter to mastitis. The obstruction is caused by a partial rupture or a complete rupture with or without inversion or eversion of the canal. With minor injury, rest from the milking machine can resolve the problem. However, in most of the case, a surgical intervention would be necessary. Often, the procedure is done blindly without knowing if the obstructive tissue is removed. Theloscopy allows direct viewing of the obstruction and of the surgical procedure. It is minimally invasive. Therefore, it has very little consequences on the teat. By viewing the inside of the teat, an adequate prognosis with appropriate post-operative recommendations can be given to the client. The surgery itself is half the battle. To successfully reestablish milk flow, resting the teat and allowing the canal to heal around a stent is essential following the procedure. The challenge would be to keep the mastitis away. This infection can rapidly turn a case into a disaster. This presentation will use clinical cases to highlight the key points to be successful doing theloscopy.