How to treat mastitis?

bonbean01

Herd Master
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
5,192
Reaction score
841
Points
363
Location
Northeast Mississippi
I've not had to deal with this yet, but this is what I found on a site about mastitis:

TREATMENT OF MASTITIS
Disinfect the teat end with alcohol and infuse a tube of mastitis antibiotic through the teat canal. Give the ewe an injection of a combination of penicillin, dihydrostreptomycin, dexamethasone and an antihistamine. The antibiotics should affect the microorganisms and the dexamethasone and antihistamine should help the tissue heal and reduce inflammation.

Guess it goes up into the teat...doesn't sound like a good time for her or you...good luck and hope she gets better soon! :hugs
 

Four Winds Ranch

Loving the herd life
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
1,134
Reaction score
96
Points
133
Location
Alberta, Canada
This is what I was taught, and what I do!!
It has to be milked out a couple times a day, if hard, carefully massage that part of the udder with apple cider viagar, and usually some will loosen up and can be milked out (every little bit helps). A teat dialator can be used to help increase drainage, and for injecting antibiotic into the teat! Oxytetracycline (short acting) given at proper times, for correct amount of days!
I also, put some apple cider vinager, and a couple drops of iodine in their water.

The trick is to catch it before it gets too bad (which is sometimes hard to do), and then, CULL THE EWE!!!!!!!
I have found mastitis to be quite hareditary, and if they have had it once, they will get it again, usually every year!
 

Southdown

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
340
Reaction score
27
Points
148
This is a chronic case that has been droopy, and black and blue for a long time. I'm not sure I could get anything to come out or go in!
 

Four Winds Ranch

Loving the herd life
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
1,134
Reaction score
96
Points
133
Location
Alberta, Canada
Does she have lamb/s on her right now?
She acts normal and eats good and all that?
Has she been on antibiotics?
 

Sheepshape

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
3,096
Points
373
I have had a number of sheep with gangrenous mastitis in the past (usually comes when there is a very cold and wet spring)....from what you are suggesting with the udder blue and black this sounds to be the case (Is the area also cold? Can you take a pic?)
Over here our vet gives us tulathromycin (trade name here Draxxin) or penicillin and streptomycin, the former being primarily used in bovine reparatory disease. Thereafter it is a case of spraying with iodine and antiseptics.
Eventually the dead part drops off and the udder heals,but usually with only one functional teat.
 

Southdown

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
340
Reaction score
27
Points
148
I will get a picture. She hasn't had lambs in two years. We do live in cold Minnesota and the past spring was very cold and wet.
 

Southdown

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
340
Reaction score
27
Points
148
Trying to upload a photo, but having trouble. I'll try again later.

Still no luck with uploading. Has the website changed? I'm using the same computer, etc. It says it must be a jpeg, but it is a jpeg. Not sure what to do. Anyway, it looks big like it has milk, but obviously it doesn't because it's been a couple years or so. It is black and blue on top of pink in coloration. She displays no pain with it. Not sure if I need to do something about it. I just want it to go dry like "normal." Would an IM penicillin shot work? Or does it have to go directly into the udder?
 
Top