Implantation of temperature loggers in 100 Danish dairy calves: Surgical procedure and follow-up

One hundred Danish dairy calves had temperature loggers implanted subcutane ously on the neck. Post-operatively, the calves were given a single antibio tic treatment, and tissue reactions were assessed on 6 post-operative visit s. After approximately 5 months, the loggers were removed and material subm itted for histologic examination. This paper presents 1) the surgical proce dure, 2) the prevalence of tissue reaction at the post-operative visits, 3) the degree of implant recovery, 4) the results of histopathologic examinat ions, 5) an evaluation of age at implantation or veterinary practitioner as risk factors for tissue reaction and missing implant recovery 5 months aft er implantation, and 6) evaluation of tissue reaction as a risk factor for lack of recovery 5 months after implantation. The implant was rejected on 7 calves (7%). Additionally, 5 calves (5%) had the temperature logger remove d because of presence of an abcess. No migration of the temperature loggers were observed. The results of a repeated measures analysis and the histopa thological findings indicate that contamination during the surgery resulted in inflammation and abcess formation. It is recommended that in the presen ce of an abcess, the temperature logger should be removed.