Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al.

, 2014

ISSN 2320-3730 www.ijasvm.com

Vol. 2, No. 4, November 2014
© 2014 www.ijasvm.com. All Rights Reserved
Research Paper

MANAGEMENT OF TAIL AFFECTIONS IN

BUFFALOES
G Satyanarayana1, Makkena Sreenu2*, V Devi Prasad3 and G V Naidu4

*Corresponding Author: Makkena Sreenu,  [email protected]

Studies on affections of tail in buffaloes and their management was taken up on the clinical
cases presented to the hospital. Avulsion of the tail, Fracture of the tail Dislocation/Luxation,
Dermatitis, Trauma, Tumors, Varicosity of tail and Necrosis and Gangrene cases were treated
on conservative therapy and amputation procedures.

Keywords: Tail affections, Treatment, Amputation, Buffaloes

management of different tail affections in

INTRODUCTION buffaloes.
Buffalo is a more economic producer of milk than
cow. The diseases that affect the productivity of MATERIALS AND METHODS
the animal should be attended to prevent The animals presented to the hospital with the
economic loss to the farmer. Hence the promising symptoms of tail affections were examined and
venture of buffalo farming calls for a detailed the proper treatment was followed either by
investigation during affections of tail. The tail is conservative or surgical methods. The animals
prone to various affections like dermatitis, trauma, brought for treatment were evaluated clinically
necrosis, gangrene, fracture, paralysis, luxation, and diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms.
Diskospondylitis, etc. (Nuss and Fiest, 2011) Some animals showed loss of skin over the tail,
Tumors of tail and tail rot occur occasionally. i.e., avulsion (Figure 1) fracture of the tail at upper
Diseases of the tail may be treated conservatively third (Figure 2), middle (Figure 3), tip (Figure 4),
or by amputation cranial to the affected area. Most dislocation/luxation trauma (Figure 5), dermatitis
of these affections do not respond to the routine (Figure 6), tumor (Figure 7), varicosity (Figure 8)
medical management and demand amputation and gangrene and necrosis (Figures 9 and 10).
of the tail. This paper discuss about the The management of affections of tail vary
1
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Veterinary Dispensory, Palakoderu, West Godavari (Dt), AP, India.
2
Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Sciecne, Korutla, Karim Nagar (Dt), TS, India.
3
Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, College of Veterinary Sciecne, Proddatur, Kadapa (Dt) 500030, AP, India.
4
Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NTR College of Veterinary Sciecne, Gannavaram, Krishna (Dt), AP, India.

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al., 2014

Figure 1: Avulsion (Degloving) of the Tail Figure 3: Fracture at its Middle and Dry
in a Buffaloe Gangrene Oft He Tail in a Buffaloe

Figure 4: Transected Tail Due to Trampling

in a Buffaloe

Figure 2: Fracture of Tail at it Upper Third

of the Tail in a Buffaloe

Figure 5: Trauma of the Tail Due to Contact

of Floor in a Buffaloe

depending on the affection. The conditions

reported under present study were managed with
appropriate measures. The animals brought for
treatment were evaluated clinically and diagnosed
the case based on the clinical symptoms.

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al., 2014

Figure 5: Trauma of the Tail Due to Contact Figure 8: Varicosity of the Lateral Coccygeal
of Floor in a Buffaloe Vein (Bilateral) in a Buffaloe

Figure 6: Dermatitis of the Tail in a Buffaloe Figure 9: Inflammation and Swelling of the
Tail in a Buffaloe

Figure 7: Trichoepithelioma of the Tail Figure 10: Necrosis of the Tip of the Tail
in a Buffaloe in a Buffaloe Due to Crush Injury

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al., 2014

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION following amputation healed by first intention

healing and epithelialization. The immobilization
Management of Tail Affections
could repair the normal function of the tail after
The management of tail affections were tabulated
a month.
and the details are shown in Table 1.

Avulsion of the Tail Dislocation/Luxation

All animals with avulsion were treated as out- Animals with dislocation/luxation were given
patient cases by following dressing of the wound prophylactic antibiotic therapy with 5 g of
on the day of presentation after irrigation with 1: streptopenicillin (Bistrepen) for a period of 2-3
5,000 potassium permanganate and povidine days along with antiseptic bandage using tincture
iodine ointment topically. Amputation of tail benzoin so as to maintain antibiotic levels at the
proximal to the lesion was carried out time of surgery. All the cases were subjected for
subsequently. Melissa Kaplan’s (2012) opined the amputation procedures on elective basis. Healing
injuries near the end of the tail often resulted in was observed in all the animals within 11-14 days.
dry gangrene, and suggested that the tail should The fracture cases at the tip were treated by
be dealt with amputations long before it got to the applying boric acid paste and bandage as
point of drying and becoming brittle. conservative therapy. In cases which had
Fracture of the Tail complete fracture at middle or upper third or at
The fracture cases at the tip were treated by the tip amputation was carried out. One case of
applying boric acid paste and bandaged as the fractures at its middle was immobilized with
conservative therapy. In cases which had external techniques. McDuffee et al. (1993)
complete fracture at middle or upper third or at repaired 5th sacral vertebrae facture with 4.5 mm
the tip amputation was carried out. One case narrow dynamic compression plate in a heifer and
of the fractures at its middle was immobilized 4 th sacral body with two extra large plastic
with external techniques. The tail stumps spinous process plates.

Table 1: Conservative Treatment Followed to Treat Different Tail Affections of Buffaloes (N = 11)

S. No. Condition Treatment Followed Remarks

1. Dermatitis (N = 3) Parentral Dicrysticin @ 5.5 gms intramuscularly Animal showed uneventful recovery
for 5 Days without any lesions
2. Necrosis (N = 3) Luke warm water therapy morning evening for Animal showed uneventful recovery
15 days and local Dicrysticin @ 5.5 gms without any lesions
injection above the seat of lesion
Topical Loraxene ointment
3. Trauma (N = 3) Dressed with Povidine iodine ointment and Animal showed uneventful recovery
topical Loraxene ointment without any lesions
4. Vericosity (N = 1) Injection Vitamin A @ 4 ml intramuscularly on Animal showed uneventful recovery
alternate days for 5 injections Polidocanal without any lesions
injection @ 6 ml intramuscularly for three
consecutive weeks
5. Dislocation (N = 1) External bamboo splinting and bandaging for Animal showed uneventful recovery
3 weeks without any lesions

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al., 2014

Dermatitis One animal showed uneventful recovery without

The case of dermatitis of tail were treated with any lesions while remaining animals subjected
Parentral Dicrysticin @ 5.5 gms intramuscularly for Amputation procedure. Kulkarni et al. (2005)
for 5 Days and topical application of Loraxene reported that treatment of varicose vein by
cream which made uneventful recovery. Three compression with bandage, firing, and ligation of
cases of trauma were recorded in the present vein above and below the swelling.
study and dressed with Povidine iodine ointment
Necrosis and Gangrene
and topical Loraxene ointment. The case
Three cases of necrosis at its early period treated
recovered without any complications.
with application of fomentation in morning and
Trauma evening for 15 days and local Streptopencillin @
Three cases of trauma were recorded in the 250 mg injection above the seat of lesion and
present study and Dressed with Povidine iodine Topical application of Loraxene ointment as
ointment and topical Loraxene ointment. The case suggested by Drolia et al. (1991). Kerem Ural
recovered without any complication. Laxmen et al. (2007) treated by amputation and
Ghimire (2012) repoted a case of Degnala administration of antibiotics and topical
disease in a buffalo and treated with anti liquor antibacterial applications. Olatunji-Akioye et al.
(zinc sulphate) @ 7 ml OD for 7 days, long acting (2010) and Nuss and Feist (2011) suggested
Tetracycline @ 1 ml/kg body weight intra amputation cranial to the affected area.
muscularly, which was repeated after 72 hours.
Diseases of the tail did not respond to the
Tumors routine medical management and demand
One cases of tumor recorded on the ventral amputation of the tail. Tail amputation in cattle was
aspect of the tail at its middle in the present study. a very controversial subject because in some
Surgical excision was followed under epidural countries, it was carried out prophylactically for
block and diagnosed as trichoepithelioma. This management reasons without any medical
might be due to misplaced dermal tissue in to a indication.
wound caused earlier and healed by mixed
Surgical Technique
intension. The skin edges were closed and post
Amputation of the tail was carried by performing
operative care in routine manner was carried
an epidural block by locating the first inter
along with antibiotic and analgesic administration.
coccygeal space with the tip of a finger when the
Suresh Kumar et al. (2012) reported a case of
tail is manipulated up and down with the other
trichoepithelioma in a buffaloe and treated
hand. The 18 G hypodermic needle was
successfully with surgical excision.
introduced at an angle of 45° to the depth of about
Varicosity of Tail ½ to 1 inch to enter the vertebral canal. An amount
Three cases of varicosity of vein were recorded of 8-10 ml of 2% lignocaine was administered
in the present study. Injection Vitamin A @ 4 ml slowly to achieve caudal desensitization of tail.
intramuscularly on alternate days for 5 injections After application of tourniquet at the base of the
and Polidocanal injection @ 6 ml intramuscularly tail a ‘V’ shaped skin incision was made on the
for three consecutive weeks were administered. dorsal (Figure 11) and ventral surfaces of the tail

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Int. J. Agric.Sc & Vet.Med. 2014 Makkena Sreenu et al., 2014

reverse fashion was applied to protect the

Figure 11: V Shape Incision Dorsum
of the Tail sutured wound.

The animals in the present study were sedated

with the xylazine hydrochloride followed by either
epidural block or ring block using 2% lignocaine.
Hydrochloride. Sedation with Xylazine
Hydrochloride made the animal calm and
facilitated easy restraint for standing positions.
Epidural analgesia and ring block found to be
suitable for desensitization of tail and subsequent
amputation procedures. Several researchers
performed amputation of tail by administering
sedatives and local infiltration techniques. The
to raise two triangular flaps of skin, the bases of administration of xylazine helped in handling of
which corresponded to the intervertebral space the animal for injection of the local anesthetic for
through which the disarticulation is to be Epidural analgesia and ring block.
effected. Cut through the intervertebral space. In the present study, tail amputation performed
Hemorrhage during the operation was controlled with V Incision on the dorsal and ventral surfaces
by a tourniquet which is released subsequently of the tail given sufficient exposure to raise two
and the bleeding points if any were ligatured or triangular flaps of skin corresponding to the
torsioned with haemostatic forceps. The skin intervertebral space. Ligature of the two lateral
flaps were sutured by horizontal mattress and middle coccygeal artery were made very
sutures using No: 2 braided silk. The excessive
easily with tranfixation technique. Clear
skin was trimmed for perfect apposition of the
visualization of the inter vertebral space was
skin edges (Figure 12). A bandage in spiral
achieved and perfect the disarticulation was
carried. Hemorrhage during the operation was
Figure 12: Sutures Tail After Amputation
controlled effectively due to preplacement of a
tourniquet which was released subsequently and
the bleeding points if any ligatured or torsioned.
Proper skin apposition was achieved with
horizontal mattress due to triangular flaps. The
excessive flaps were trimmed and sutured to have
a perfect apposition. All the animals showed
uneventful recovery.

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