GoinBackToCali
Well-Known Member
I didn't start this thread looking for advice. I have the situation under control, however, I started it because I thought it may be of use to someone else.
As you all may or may not know, I lost a doe, and her young had to be fostered to another mother. 2 actually. Another child had 3 surviving kits who were brought to me, rather than be left to die, so this was essentially a mixed litter of 10. This litter and the doe, for my ease of monitoring them, and to keep the stress to them a minimum, were kept in the house, rather than toted back and forth from the barn.
2 days ago, I noticed the doe was sitting in an erect position all day, and made no effort to move when offered food. She did not even seem to care when the kits harassed her. I pulled her from her cage. She had a hard mass on her lower nipples, between her hind legs. Under her white fur you could see the skin was blue/black. One nipple was black. I immediately got a hold of my vet, even though I already knew what the problem was. She was put on a series of twice a day Baytril injections,as well as twice a day hydrocortisone shots. I saw drastic improvements that night, and she began to eat and drink, by morning she was laying comfortably. I also applied hot compresses to her abdomen every 2-3 hours throughout the night and day.
Signs of Mastitsis are as follows:
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast - or mammary gland.
Mastitis usually occurs in rabbits that are lactating. The signs are :
a flare up of mastitis just following kindling when there is added
stress on the udder due to increases in milk production.
I was told by a local breeder that he has had does get it before, but he "lets the chips fall where they may" and the doe recovers, but she is usually unable to nurse again, so he uses her for breeding purposes, and fosters her young to another mother. I myself do not know if this is true, I placed a call into my vet, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. But I must stress, this is an UNTREATED doe.. mine has been treated, and caught early, so her prognosis may be seriously different. She very well may suffer no ill effects. I will update this after I speak with my vet.
As for the kits.. they were pulled off her, and have been put on a regimen of Ebsilac Puppy Powder rather than KMR, because of the high fat content. Rather than mix it with water, my vet instructed me to mix it with Pedialyte for the electrolytes. The seem to be doing alright, and have a hearty appetite.
I cannot stress enough.. if you suspect Mastitis.. don't self diagnose and medicate..SEE A VET!!!!!..
Here are a few pics of my Doe, Queen Anne Boleyn, and the kits..
As you all may or may not know, I lost a doe, and her young had to be fostered to another mother. 2 actually. Another child had 3 surviving kits who were brought to me, rather than be left to die, so this was essentially a mixed litter of 10. This litter and the doe, for my ease of monitoring them, and to keep the stress to them a minimum, were kept in the house, rather than toted back and forth from the barn.
2 days ago, I noticed the doe was sitting in an erect position all day, and made no effort to move when offered food. She did not even seem to care when the kits harassed her. I pulled her from her cage. She had a hard mass on her lower nipples, between her hind legs. Under her white fur you could see the skin was blue/black. One nipple was black. I immediately got a hold of my vet, even though I already knew what the problem was. She was put on a series of twice a day Baytril injections,as well as twice a day hydrocortisone shots. I saw drastic improvements that night, and she began to eat and drink, by morning she was laying comfortably. I also applied hot compresses to her abdomen every 2-3 hours throughout the night and day.
Signs of Mastitsis are as follows:
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast - or mammary gland.
Mastitis usually occurs in rabbits that are lactating. The signs are :
- Firm swelling of one or more breasts - which can take on a "blue" appearance
- The breasts feel hot
- There may be abscess formation within the breast
- There may be a foul-smelling discharge from the breast
- There may be a blood-stained discharge from the breast
- The rabbit may have a poor appetite
- High body temperature (over 104[sup]o[/sup]F)
- The young may die
- In severe cases the mother may develop septicemia (infection in the bloodstream) and die.
a flare up of mastitis just following kindling when there is added
stress on the udder due to increases in milk production.
I was told by a local breeder that he has had does get it before, but he "lets the chips fall where they may" and the doe recovers, but she is usually unable to nurse again, so he uses her for breeding purposes, and fosters her young to another mother. I myself do not know if this is true, I placed a call into my vet, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. But I must stress, this is an UNTREATED doe.. mine has been treated, and caught early, so her prognosis may be seriously different. She very well may suffer no ill effects. I will update this after I speak with my vet.
As for the kits.. they were pulled off her, and have been put on a regimen of Ebsilac Puppy Powder rather than KMR, because of the high fat content. Rather than mix it with water, my vet instructed me to mix it with Pedialyte for the electrolytes. The seem to be doing alright, and have a hearty appetite.
I cannot stress enough.. if you suspect Mastitis.. don't self diagnose and medicate..SEE A VET!!!!!..
Here are a few pics of my Doe, Queen Anne Boleyn, and the kits..
