Ask the Vet

By Dr. Ken McMillan
DTN/The Progressive Farmer Contributing Editor

Question:

I have several 5-weight heifers and steers that have warts on their faces, and especially around their eyes. Normally I would use iodine for warts, but I want to know if this would be a problem around the eyes?

Answer:

Warts are caused by viruses and are more common in young cattle. They will usually resolve with time if left alone. Commercial vaccines are available and may help.

Custom vaccines can be made from the warts harvested from your cattle. These vaccines are usually more effective, but the process is also more expensive and time-consuming. It is an approach usually only tried when commercial vaccines and/or the tincture of time have failed.

In your specific case, I would say that if you are using iodine with success, it's possible you are dealing with ringworm and not warts. Ringworm lesions are flat, gray areas of hair loss. Warts are raised, "lumpy/bumpy" gray lesions. Iodine would not help with warts.

(VM/CZ)

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