Udder edema, also known as caked udder, is the accumulation of fluid in the udder's interstitial tissue spaces. It most commonly affects dairy animals near parturition and causes economic losses by decreasing milk production and making milking difficult. The exact cause is unknown but may involve decreased blood flow and increased venous blood pressure in the udder around calving. Udder edema has two stages - initial congestion and swelling followed by pitting of the edema on digital pressure. Treatment focuses on massage and diuretics to reduce swelling while prevention emphasizes selective breeding and management around calving to restrict fluid accumulation.

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2. Udder edema
• Also called as caked udder.
• It is mostly occurring in Dairy aniamls.
• Odder oedema can be defined as ;
• The accumulation of fluid in the Interstitial tissue spaces.
• It is most serious condition which affects world dairy industry.
• The swollen udder is uncomfortable
• And prone to injury and mastitis.
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3. • It makes milking difficult.
• Udder suspensory ligaments become permanently damaged.
• Udder oedema affects mostly;
• Cattle
• Buffaloes
• Sheep
• goats
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4. Occurrence ;;
• Udder oedema usually occurs near to parturition.
• Its affects mostly primiparous animals.
• Also affects older cow/does.
• Its affects mostly higher milk producing animals.
• Especially those animals with pendulous udder.
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5. Ecnomic impertance ;;
• Udder oedema may cause economic losses in dairy cattle/goats.
• Decrease in milk production b/c of pain.
• It is difficult to milk the oedematous udder properly.
• The oedema can cause permanent damage to udder ligaments.
• subsequent attacks of udder oedema may cause udder skin necrosis,
mostly seen in goats
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6. Causes ;;
• The exact cause of udder oedema is unknown.
• Studies shown that udder oedema at parturition results from
decreased blood flow associated with an increased venous blood
pressure in cranial superficial epigastric vein.
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7. Inheritance ;;
• The underlying predisposition to udder oedema is hereditary.
• The Alpine goat breed have severe udder oedema.
• A genetic study suggested that there is a significant positive
correlation with milk yield in cow/goat with udder oedema.
• Selection by progeny testing for oedema' could be effective.
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8. Mammary blood and lymph flow
• 3-fold increase in mammary blood flow from two weeks before
parturition
• Animals with udder oedema had a 17.1% lower mammary blood flow
than without udder oedema at parturition.
• So mammary blood flow changes are a factor in the development of
udder 'oedema at calving/kidding.
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9. Venous blood pressure ;
• Significant increase in the venous blood pressure in the superficial
cranial milk veins associated with the development of udder oedema
.
• Stasis of venous blood or lymph flow during gestation because of
pressure by the gravid uterus been proposed as a cause of udder
oedema.
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10. Clinical Signs .;;
• The acute, or physiological form near parturition,
• Chronic or pathological form during lactation.
• This classification is based on the presence of clinical signs of udder.
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11. • Clinically, udder oedema has two distinct
stages
• During the first stage
 Gradual congestion of udder.
 The udder becomes greatly
distended,
 Swollen
 filled with colostrum.
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12. • During the second stage,
• Digital pressure produces pitting of the oedematous areas, which lasts for
several minutes and is characteristic.
• The udder skin thick and hard on digital palpation.
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13. Diagnosis .;
• The oedema is symmetrical,
• involving both udder halves,
• with pitting on pressure,
• absence of heat,
• occurrence near parturition.
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14. D.daignosis;
• The condition should be differentiated from
• Hematomas of the udder,
• Ventral abdominal hernia,
• Mastitis
• Considerations must be given to the history of the condition, the
nature of the enlargement, the consistency of tissues involved, and
the type of fluid present.
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15. Treatment ;;
• In most cases, udder oedema does not need any treatment.
• The swelling gradually decreases after calving.
• A 20-minute massage, three times daily, together with the alternate
application of hot and cold water.
• Mild exercise
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16. • Rubbing the udder with 200 mg diethylstilbestrol in 10 ml corn oil on
the 1st and 3rd days after calving gave favorable results.
• Diuretics have been used extensively.
• Furosemide @500 mg once daily or 250 mg twice daily
• Not to exceed 48 hours post-partum (for udder edema)
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17. Prevention and Control
• The condition should be eliminated by selective breeding .
• Udder oedema may be prevented to some extent by good
management at parturition, including moderate exercise
• A mildly laxative in feed.
• Restriction of salts near to parturition/kidding
• Use of udder supports and massage .
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18. • Induction of parturition using dexamethasone and estradiol benzoate
injections demonstrated a significant lowering of the incidence of
udder oedema.
• Decreasing the potassium content in feed
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