Mastitis

[Sharyl]

Isn't CA just wonderful? It annoys me SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!! Before you start on antibiotics you can take a red top tube and get a clean catch of milk and store it in the refrigerator so you can send it in to the lab if you need to. If you send it in ask for a sensitivity test you can find out what antibiotic to give her. I just went down this road with two goats and I ended up giving them away. They had Staphylococcus Aureus which is likely to come back every time they freshen. Since I have a brand new dairy I couldn't risk keeping them on the milk line.

It is important that you continue to milk her so that no scar tissue forms in the streak canal which will prevent you from getting milk out. A few years ago another doe had mastitis and I didn't milk her out long enough and now I can't get milk from that half but it still makes milk and makes her very uncomfortable.

Good luck and I hope you find someone to help her. Do you have any friends in NV or OR?

My in laws live in Happy Valley, Ca! We used to live in Redding! Small world

 

[babsbag]

One of my best friends here lives in Happy Valley and I "met" her about 9 years ago on Back Yard Chickens. It is indeed a small world.

 

[momto6Ls]

Sharyl, I'm sorry I missed most of this! I kept hoping someone else had given you help as I read!

Any time my girls seem a little sick with an infection I offer them cloves of garlic right away! Garlic is a natural antibiotic and they usually crunch it right down if they need it. I offer a few cloves twice a day until the problem is resolved. The garlic will actually sweeten the milk as well - BONUS . It is not toxic - they can have as much as they want!

We have 5 does, also try to keep it natural, and sell the milk - so antibiotics are a last option. It sounds like you were on the right track. Treating naturally ALWAYS takes longer to heal. And yes, sometimes it is miserable. We have had occasion to do exactly what you did - compress, peppermint oil massage. You did great! Give yourself a pat on the back.

You might want to add garlic to your list of options. I won't go without it! If they really need it and won't crunch it down (there is always at least one stubborn girl! Lol) we crush it and give it as a drench.

I think that would have helped to completely take care of the problem with everything else you were doing.

I just want to say again, kudos for all you did to take care of her. Don't let the vet give you a hard time - doing all you can before calling is not wrong! And I hope garlic is helpful in the future!