Mastitis?

[aurora369]

I just noticed that my doe is getting hardmammary glands, but I'm not sure if it's from built up milk ormastitis. The nipples all look pink and healthy, not red orswollen and in the morning her glands are all squishy.

What are the signs of mastitis, and do doe's mammary glands normally get full to the point of hardness?

Thanks,
Dawn

 

[ariel]

Dawn, I'm sorry I don't have any ideas on this I have tried searchingit for you but had no luck. Someone with experience with thistopic will be along soon I am sure of it.

 

[BlueGiants]

Usually, with mastitis, the area around the teatwill be hot to the touch (above normal body temp), red andswollen. It can look like a pus filledabcess.Sometimes the swelling will be off to oneside of the teat. I would check her teats AFTER shefeeds the kits. If it's mastitis it will lookworse. If the swelling is down and they feel "squishy" again,it's just milk. But I'd be concerned that the doe is overproducing milk... Either way, warm compresses to the area willhelp.Feeding her Raspberry leaves will also help.If youare sure it'sMastitis, you will have to handraise the babies. Theyshould no longer nurse onher.

If you want to use warm compresses, 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on. I try to do this 3-4 x a day.

If you suspect mastitis, I'd get a vet to look at her. It can affect the milk supply and be harmful to the babies.

 

[aurora369]

Thank you BlueGiants,

Well from what you've described I think she's just over producingmilk. When I check her in the morning she's all soft andsquishy and is only hard in the evenings. I had a pretty goodlook, as she lets me flip her over, and there's nothing that looks likepuss build up, heat form the nipples, or abcesses.

I did put a hot compress on her when I first noticed it, but wasn'tsure if I was doing good or harm, so I just did it the onetime. But if it will help her expel the milk, I'll keep doingit. The babies are now just over three weeks old and she'sstarting to wean them, so I don't know if that factor's into it ornot...

I'll have to go find some raspberry bushes, which may be a bit of apain as I live in Vancouver, but I got to UBC, a giant university, andI may be able to find some there.

 

[BlueGiants]

Just keep an eye on her. Check herdaily. At 3 weeks, they are still getting a lot of milk outof her. And she's probably trying to accomadate them! (Thewonderful mommy that she is!)

You can also take her away from them during the day if you want to giveher a break. They may be constantly pulling on her andirritating her nipples. She only nurses them twice a day (atmost). She can be away from them with no problem!Their eyes are open, they have food and water. They should beout of the nest box by now. She can use time off! (Couldn'twe all?) Take her out after she's nursed them in themorning, give her a quiet spot during the day, and return heraround dinner time. She may be upset the first day or so,until she sees the routine. But it'll be good forher. (Just from my personal experiences...)

 

[aurora369]

Yes, they are all out of the nest box andrunning around like crazy. I don't really have another cageto put her in right now, I'm in a basement sweet while going toUniversity and space is pretty cramped. They're all in a NICCondo and there is a shelf she could jump onto if she wanted to getaway from them, but she doesn't like it. She seems prettygood about avoiding them unless it's feeding time.

I'm actually surprised at how good a mother she's been. Thisis the first litter she's had with me, I bought her off a breeder whohad bred her once and said he could only "save" one of her babies, butnever said what went wrong. And I never got a reply from thee-mail I sent him asking him what went wrong. So I wasprepared for the worst with this litter. I got the KMR, andwas ready to hand feed them if she turned out to be a nasty mom, butshe's been a complete angel!! She had all the babies in thebox, one was still born though, but she had three healthybabies. She feeds them and cares for them so well.

One more question, is there anything else I can give her besidesraspberry leaves? I'm having a hard time finding any in themiddle of the city. And what exactly are the leaves supposedto do?

Thanks,
Dawn

 

[BlueGiants]

Sounds like you are doinga great jobwith her! Some does are not successful with their firstlitter, but do fine after that!

I give raspberry leaves after labor and for acouple weeksafter. I find it helps with labor, limit's post deliverybleeding and I think it helps the milk flow better (less swellingaround the teats). But since the babies are already 3 weeksold, I don't think it would be of any help to your doe.

If you think she's uncomfortable, warm compresses are alwaysgood. You may also find that over the next few days as thebabies demand for milk changes, her body will adapt, and produce lessmilk.


Just wanted to add, if the mammary glands get harder, or hot and moreswollen, take her to a vet immediately. Take the babies offher right away. They should be starting to eat solid food bynow anyway... are you starting them on oats?

 

[aurora369]

hmm... well I wasn't sure if it was good to givethem oats, but if it's good for them, I'll grab some when I go homethis week end. They've got tons of fresh timothy hay, andthey're little poops are full of fiber...

My room mate is taking pictures of them as we speak, so in a bit I'll start a picture thread for all my bunnies...

thanks again!!
Dawn