Proud Flesh?

[susie]

I'm wondering if my cow has developed proud flesh on her ear. Where her Bang's tag is has never really closed up, and she has pinkish raised skin around the tag area. It's not really skin though, and it's a little gritty and bleeds easily.
I read that I should trim it and apply an anti-biotic/cortisone cream to it. I also think I should tape the ear tag so it doesn't rotate in her ear, or would it be ok to remove it? Probably not.
I have just been putting antibiotic/fly spray on it, but it has been lingering and lingering. It took a while after she got the tag to develop it, 3-4 months or so, but it's now been a good coupla months since she's developed this condition.

BTW, I think she's pregnant-- was scheduled to come in heat any day, and no sign of it !:) She's 16 months old.

Thanks far any advice!
Susie

 

[TheBullLady]

I've had heifers do that also.. I suspect it's an allergic reaction to the metal of the tag.. like some earrings I've worn!

Actually, you can remove the tag if it's a problem. I have cows that have ripped it off by getting it hung on something, so I've been known to take them out. The cow has a tattoo in her ear as well, so you don't really need the tag. Just makes it more convenient if you sell her, so a potential buyer knows she's been vaccinated.

They are a PAIN to remove.. I'm sure someone on this board has a good idea on how to get them out, you don't want to know how I've done it. :oops:

 

[Bama]

As far as removing the tag you can use tin snips and cut it right off. I'm with TBL its probally a reaction and not proud flesh. If its an open wound you may want to sterilize the tin snips before cutting the tag off. After removing the tag be sure and treat the wound for infection. One of the best things for proud flesh is maggots. They will eat away at the rotting meat but I don't think you will need to go to this. There are other problems associated with using maggots. Be sure and have her in a headgate as she ain't gonna like you messing with that tag. Tie her head to the other side with a improvized halter and you want have any problems.

 

[Farmhand]

I'm with the others. I'd remove it, spray it with iodine, and watch that it healed up.

 

[Texan]

Susie, I'd be sure she has a legible tattoo before I removed the tag. If she doesn't, let your vet reapply the tattoo while the tag is still in there so that he can verify her status as an official vaccinate. Then, let him remove the tag since it is really not legal for you to do that.

That said, I'll tell you what I do with them. Leave them alone and most of the "problems" will go away in time. I suspect that it is a much bigger problem for you than it is for her.

 

[susie]

Well, here's an update. She was scratching her head and her ear started bleeding pretty good, down by her eye.
We put her in the headgate and hubby cut the tag off, I cleaned the hole... got a big chunk of "ick" from under the tag , and put ointment on it.
The tag was all dis-colored, the paint was eaten off it. Tag was Covered with pus, put it in a tissue and a zip lock, put it in the freezer, to keep just in case. Our receipt for purchasing her also has her tag number on it.
Don't know where to look for tattoo, but would like to so next time she's in the headgate I can look.
It had been since December, tired of messing with it... hope it doesn't get us in trouble later--- oh, there are the tag poilice now! It will be obvious that she had some tag there, since it is partially healed over with really thick raised white scar tissue.
I'm just hoping it will finally clear up now.It was really oozie so the ointment didn't want to stick-- powder would've been better.
Thanks!
Susie

 

[Texan]

Don't know where to look for tattoo, but would like to so next time she's in the headgate I can look.

Should be in her right ear. Ideally in the middle third. You might have to wipe it out with your thumb or a paper towel. If it's a dark pigmented ear, you might have to hold a light behind it to see it.

... hope it doesn't get us in trouble later--- oh, there are the tag poilice now!

Ha! Not necessarily funny, though. I know that you might consider it to be your vaccination tag. But actually, it could also be a means of traceback for somebody that owns her later. If we had more vaccination tags in place, we might not be having M-ID being crammed down our throats as soon. It's not just about proving vaccination status. Disease traceback has been hampered by the movement away from vaccinating and the accompanying 'permanent' identification that went with it.

It will be obvious that she had some tag there, since it is partially healed over with really thick raised white scar tissue.

Without the tattoo, it means nothing. Even if you still have the tag in your possession. Unless she has a legible tattoo, she is now officially a non-vaccinate.

Good luck!

 

[vet2013]

I realize this thread is long over, however, a search led me here so I felt it important to note for future readers that removal of any calf-hood vaccination ear tag is illegal. It does not matter why it was removed, it is a violation of federal law. If an infection is persisting due to a placed ear tag, consult your veterinarian. Exuberant granulation tissue (proud flesh) can occur in cattle, although much less commonly than in horses. Finally, maggots would not be an appropriate form of therapy as one poster indicated. Maggots feed on dead tissue, proud flesh is actually live tissue called granulation tissue. Any maggot feeding on live tissue would be consistent with screw-worms, a reportable condition (one that has been eradicated) in the United States.

 

[SSGenetics]

I realize this thread is long over, however, a search led me here so I felt it important to note for future readers that removal of any calf-hood vaccination ear tag is illegal. It does not matter why it was removed, it is a violation of federal law. If an infection is persisting due to a placed ear tag, consult your veterinarian. Exuberant granulation tissue (proud flesh) can occur in cattle, although much less commonly than in horses. Finally, maggots would not be an appropriate form of therapy as one poster indicated. Maggots feed on dead tissue, proud flesh is actually live tissue called granulation tissue. Any maggot feeding on live tissue would be consistent with screw-worms, a reportable condition (one that has been eradicated) in the United States.

:bs: